Leaning over the catalog at the lamp,
Delve into the names unknown books;
Keep track of names; syllable by syllable
Drink the words of a foreign language;
To guess the great in the little;
Recreate poets and centuries
For short repeating marks:
"Without a title", "in morocco" and "rare" ...
V. Bryusov (Tertsiny to the lists of books)
A rare book, book rarity - this short definition evokes somewhat similar associations among book connoisseurs, and at the same time, it is safe to say that every bibliophile has his own idea of the rarity of a book. This is confirmed by the publications of collectors of books of the past (G.N. Gennadi (1), N.V. Guberti (2), I.M. Ostroglazov (3), V.A.Vereshchagin (4), D.V. Ulyaninsky (5), etc.). THEM. Ostroglazov said: “Compiling my library, I had the opportunity to revise more than one thousand books, read more than one hundred antique catalogs, review, in addition to our public libraries, and many private libraries, compiled with love and knowledge. I think that by this long-term path I got the opportunity to form a proper understanding of our book rarities, in addition to even the indications of previous bibliographers ”(3). The author is ready to recognize these words of almost a century ago as his own (you can't say more precisely!). And on this basis, consider the concept of book rarity from your point of view. But first, let us briefly dwell on the definitions given by Gennadi and Ulyaninsky - the largest authorities for many lovers of the old book. According to Gennadi, the most important characteristic of the rarity of the book was the reliably known small number of copies of this book. He called such a book "an absolute rarity." He referred to a “conventional rarity” a book that is difficult to find: “Actually, any book that is difficult to get can be called a rare book” (1). The translation of the concept of rarity only into the quantitative aspect is an undoubted simplification, naturally taken to the extreme among the scribes of the so-called "Gennadiy persuasion", collectors of book wonders, unnecessary prints, etc. Undoubtedly, Gennadi himself, as a very prominent bibliographer, collector (and lover) of books, a European educated person, understood "book rarity" more broadly (albeit intuitively). But human psychology is such that you can drive yourself into a narrow rut and never get out of it. Perhaps the passion for rare books, which Gennadi described (presumably, from himself) - “the collector of such books is pleased with the idea that the book rarity belongs to him, and very few, and even absolutely no such chosen ones as he” (1) - and influenced the formation of the concept of "rarity"?
D.V. Ulyaninsky said that “in book rarity it is necessary to distinguish: category, class or degree and value. To classify this or that book into a well-known category, there are sufficiently accurate signs that determine the reason for the rarity, but there are no general provisions for class and value, and there is no mutual relationship between these factors, so that any rarity is completely, so to speak, individual according to its class. and values ”(5). Rarity categories (according to Ulyaninsky) are, in fact, not categories, but the reasons why the book is quantitatively rare (few copies of the book have survived). Ulyaninsky defined the degree (class) of rarity of the book as follows: “I personally find the definitions very convenient: rare, very rare, rarest, but not for characterizing or dividing rarity into such groups, but as an independent sign of the degree or class of rarity” (5). Thus, the degree (class) of rarity, according to Ulyaninsky, is simply a quantitative assessment (on a three-point scale) of the "occurrence" of a book (based on an estimate of the number of existing copies). By introducing the concept of “value of a book,” Ulyaninsky substantially supplements the portrait of book rarity. This is what he meant by this concept: “Talking about value antique books, it should be borne in mind that in setting the price, the safety of the specimen and its virgin appearance play a huge role ... In the same way, the price is increased by the former belonging of the sold specimen to some famous person, with his exlibris, or especially with his own notes, thanks to which copies of the most ordinary books turn into valuable rarities, as well as copies with autographs of famous authors or publishers "" (5). D.V. Ulyaninsky, except above this definition book rarity, also outlined a privileged circle of books for which the right to fall into “book rarities” is recognized, in his words: “... our bibliophile practice does not recognize all mathematics and included in its cycle of applied sciences, technology, medicine and natural science. Bibliophiles usually look for their rarities among works that do not have a professional and special character, but that deal with issues of general interest: philosophical and theological, historical, geographical, legal, literary and artistic ”(5).
In some ways, the venerable bibliographer may be right, but he is right in an average way. After all, there are books and Books! His assertion is completely inapplicable, for example, to publications of Peter's time, most of which are just "in the field of mathematics ..."; what bibliophile would not recognize as a rarity, moreover, the greatest, "Geometry of Slavic surveying ..." of 1708 ... About a rare book in Soviet time was written a little (there are probably reasons for that). No catalogs of the rare book were published at all.
In the essay "On a rare book" A.I. Malein wrote: “A book that exists in an absolutely small number of copies and has scientific significance can be recognized as rare” (6). With this definition, N.Yu. Ulyaninsky, defending only the quantitative ("Gennadievsky") approach: “The direct meaning of the word rare is opposite to the word frequent. Thus, the word rare is a sign of quantity. The introduction of a sign of value here is already a narrowing particularity, which makes it possible to separate objects suitable for a given time or for a given purpose from the category of rare objects in terms of the number of objects. The sign of rarity is an objective concept, always unchanging and stable, while the sign of suitability and value is an unstable, subjective concept and, therefore, has a temporary character ”(7). As you can see, nothing has been added to what was said by Gennadi and Ulyaninsky. A.I. added nothing to this. Markushevich in the "Bibliophile's Almanac" for 1973 in the article "On book rarities" (8). In light of the above, it is clear that it is not easy to define the concept of "rare book". But it seems that a new attempt at such a definition is not useless if it provides some semblance of a tool for understanding book rarity.
First of all, it is obvious that the concept of "rare book" (in the broad sense) is not a "one-dimensional" concept, that is, all books that, from the point of view of a bibliophile, can be classified as rarities cannot be lined up in one line according to the degree of rarity, where on its right flank there will be the most rare, and on the left - less. The concept of "book rarity" has long outgrown its root (as quantitative), and if it is close to it, then only by "consumer rarity", that is, by how difficult it is to transfer a specific "rarity" from the category of desiderata to those present in this collection ...
What properties (features) are inherent in the generalized "book rarity"?
Dialectically, they should split into two opposite classes: the class of general book signs, that is, signs of publication (class "K"), and the class of individual (unique) signs (class "I"); and each book presents both classes - such is the dialectic. Let us single out within each specified class, as far as possible, features independent from each other.
Class "K" Class "I"
1. Cultural significance 1. Preservation of the specimen
2. Actual rarity 2. Features of the instance
3. Functionality 3. Binding characteristics
4. Aesthetics
5. Graphic significance
6. Collectible value
Cultural significance. Obviously, monuments should have the highest rank on this basis. For Russian books, these are, first of all, the Slavic first printed editions (15th-16th centuries), all editions of Peter's time (the first books of the civil press), then milestone books, such as, for example, "The Experience of a Historical Dictionary of Russian Writers" by N.I. Novikov of 1772 (9), which gave a starting point for all subsequent dictionaries of Russian writers and historians of Russian literature, or "History of the Russian State" N.M. Karamzin of 1816-1818 is a publication entered into the golden tablets of our culture. This should also include the lifetime editions of the classics of Russian literature. A vivid illustration of the assessment of the latter can be seen in the statement of a remarkable connoisseur of Russian culture V. V. Rozanov about Pushkin's publications, about “reading” Pushkin: “The voice must be listened to in reading as well. Therefore, not everyone who "reads Pushkin" has anything in common with Pushkin, but only who listens to the voice of the speaking Pushkin, guessing the intonation that the living person had. Whoever "does not listen to the living Pushkin" in the pages being turned over does not seem to read it anyway, but reads someone instead of him, equalizing with him, "of the same education and talent as he, and who wrote on the same topics." - but not himself. Hence, the "academic" publications of Pushkin are so alien and deaf, heaped up with a mountain of "notes", and Vengerov's (10) - still lurid pictures and any scholarly bazaar. It was as if rubbish was poured out of a box on Pushkin: and it was all dusty, weedy, cluttered. Disappeared - in the very form and external form of the publication - main feature his image and soul: amazing brevity in everything and simplicity. And of course, the best editions and even the only ones that can be held in hand without disgust - the old editions of it, on thick paper, each poem from a new page - ed. Zhukovsky (11). Or - individual poems printed during his lifetime. Or - his poems and dramatic excerpts in "Northern Flowers". I have Boris Godunov, 1831, and 2 books of Northern Flowers with Pushkin; and - Zhukovsky's edition. In 30 years these editions will be appreciated as gold, and the masters will absolutely repeat (of course, without censorship modern cuts) paper, fonts, arrangement of works, spelling, format and bindings.
In such a publication, we can achieve, as it were, listening to Pushkin ... "(12)
The actual rarity of the publication is a sign of the small number of existing copies of this book. Rare in fact:
1) old books; for Russian books of the civil press, these are all books published in the 18th century and partly in the 19th century (at least until the 30s of the last century). It is hardly worth explaining all the reasons for their rarity, but the upheavals of the 20th century had a detrimental effect on practically the entire pre-revolutionary book fund (to a lesser extent on the editions of the classics of the late 19th - early 20th centuries); books of the eighteenth century, most of which were rare at the end of the nineteenth century, are undoubtedly even rarer at the end of our twentieth century;
2) books about which there is documentary evidence of the destruction of most of the circulation of the publication due to government regulations, natural disasters, the whim of the author, etc .;
3) books printed in a small number of copies: these include those whose (official) publication did not take place for any reason and only a few trial copies survived, as well as books printed in a small number with distinctive features in relation to ordinary book of this edition (another
paper, increased number of illustrations or attachments, type or color of illustrations, etc.).
Functionality. Functionality means the preservation of the "consumer" value of the book, that is, its ability to serve the original purpose - scientific, aesthetic, reference, etc., and this value can be preserved in the presence of other editions of this book; the latter undoubtedly refers to the lifetime editions of the classics, as well as to editions that have the status of "almost a manuscript," that is, the primary source. Such are, for example, "History" by V.N. Tatishchev (13), in which the later lost chronicles are extensively cited; "The Lay of Igor's Regiment" in 1800 (14), the manuscript of which was lost, "Beketovskoe" edition of the works of G. Fonvizin in 1830 (15), since most of the author's manuscripts, which were in P. Beketov's possession, perished.
Aesthetics. Aesthetics is understood as the characteristic of publishing design that gives a book the status of a work of book art. Book masterpieces are created using a wonderful combination of great type, paper, graphics, binding.
Graphic significance is an independent feature of illustrated publications - the presence of engravings or lithographs in a book for something famous (by the name of the artist, engraver, or by the depicted areas or objects). In this case, the “weight” of the value (and rarity) of the book increases in so far as the circle of applicants for this publication goes beyond the circle of book collectors. Many prints (engravings, lithographs) from these publications and the publications themselves end up in the collection of pictorial ones (engravings, lithographs, thematic museums, etc.).
The collectible value as a sign is typical for editions united by some common feature for a number of books, which is of particular attractiveness to the collector-collector. A striking example of such a feature is the diminutiveness of the publication. This feature alone makes the book coveted (practically regardless of the content) for a considerable number of fans of the "small form". Other examples: the book's belonging to the "alds" or "elzevirs", to the Russian editions of Peter's time (1682-1725), Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740), Elizaveta Petrovna (1741-1761), etc.
Preservation ("virginity") of the specimen as a sign requires less explanation than others. When describing, ranking a copy of a book on this basis, usually indicate the degree of preservation ("virginity") relative to an ideal copy of ideal preservation. To assess the preservation, a four-point system is often used - excellent, good, satisfactory and poor preservation. In the same criterion, the completeness of the copy is taken into account, that is, the presence in the copy of all elements of the publication, recorded bibliographically after the book was published (all pages, illustrations, etc.).
The features of an instance are the distinctive features inherent in this instance that make it unique. Basically, these are: the presence of autographs of famous persons, notable ownership marks, or data on the ownership of a book in a well-known library, the presence of hand-colored illustrations by their author (in the absence of such coloring in other copies), etc.
Binding characteristics. If a copy of the publication is bound into an artistic, somehow wonderful binding, then this should be reflected as its individual peculiarity. Book covers, made by famous masters of bookbinding, are one of the most important attributes of the uniqueness of copies (by the way, they are collectibles themselves). First of all, these are bindings made by French masters (who have always set the tone in bookbinding), often from Moroccan moroccan ("Morocin"). The famous St. Petersburg bookbinders of the second half of the 19th century: Peterson, Ro, Schnel, can also be attributed to the French school of bookbinding.
So, what can be said about the possibility of a quantitative (comparative) assessment of "scarcity"? First of all, each of the six indicated signs of a publication can be assessed expertly (on a point scale). Further, on the basis of these estimates and "weighing" (also expertly) of each of the six features, it is possible to create a generalized estimate of "rarity" using the methods of the so-called multidimensional scaling. The most "subtle" in this case is expert assessments. Undoubtedly, such work on the assessment of the rarity of books is the lot of clubs of connoisseurs of antique books, bibliophiles. Here is how the famous bibliophile V. Voinov describes an exhibition of Russian and foreign books organized by the Circle of Lovers of Russian Fine Editions in 1914: “From the editions of the late 17th century I will point out, firstly ... a rare copy of the first edition of La Fontaine's fables in 1685 with etchings Romaen de Hooge, published during the author's lifetime; secondly, at the Megsure Galant of 1693 ... - remarkable for its binding with the coat of arms of Louis de Bourbon, comte de Toulouse, and, thirdly, at the Ecole des amants ou l, art de bien aimer 1700 .- a copy that belonged to the Marquis Pompadour and has her coat of arms on the binding ... Another large and remarkable section of the exhibition is Russian books of the 18th and 19th centuries. There are rare copies here, which, first of all, should include the editions of Peter the Great: "Arithmetic" by Magnitsky (1703) and "Theatron or a historical shame" (1721) and the reign of Elizabeth: "Chambers of the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy of Sciences, libraries and cabinet of curiosities "1741, on a sheet, ...; the copy belonged to Count K.G. Razumovsky, but, as can be seen from the inscription, he got to second-hand booksellers in Paris, where he was bought by someone in 1814; the book is adorned with a magnificent red morocco binding with the monogram of Empress Elizabeth on the obverse and a two-headed eagle on the back (the binding is similar to the publishing binding of Elizabeth's Coronation in 1744). Such, for example, books as "Yabeda" by V. Kapnist, - an edition dedicated to Emperor Paul I: it was confiscated and destroyed in an amount of 1211 copies ... - or "Fables" by Krylov, ed. 1843; on the sheet pasted into this book it is printed: “The fables of I.A. Krylov. An offering in memory of Ivan Andreevich. At his will. St. Petersburg, 1844, November 9 3/4 8 am "; this copy from among those handed out at the will of the author to those who attended his funeral ”(16).
Let's try to describe two editions of the 18th century in accordance with the above principles for defining "book rarity":
Tumansky F.O. Full description of the deeds of E.V. Sovereign Emperor Peter the Great. Composed by Theodore Tumansky. In the city of St. Peter: Shnor's Printing House, 1788. Part 1. LVI,, 282, p .: ill .; 11 p. silt Engraved title page, 11 single-sheet prints (10 portraits), engraved vignettes (6) in the text. This book (only the first part came out) is a generally recognized great rarity. Gennadi wrote about her: “Tumansky, publishing Notes about Peter I, wanted at the same time to extract from them the history of his reign, but this enterprise was limited to the first volume. I judge the rarity of this book because I have been looking for it for a long time and with difficulty found a complete copy with all the portraits (for 15 rubles) ”(1).
Consider the signs of this edition. 1) The cultural significance of this book is low, that is, it is not a "milestone" or "monument" in the sense outlined above. 2) Actual rarity. The book is rare in terms of bibliographic data as an "old" edition, an approximate estimate of the number of existing complete copies (including in libraries and museums) was not carried out, but with a high probability of correct estimation this number does not exceed 30-50 copies. 3) The functional significance of the book is low due to the presence of many works about Peter I and the period of his reign. But at the same time, for studying the state of the cultural atmosphere at the end of the 18th century, assessing the historical knowledge of the 18th century, the book is interesting. 4) The aesthetics of the book for the end of the 18th century (in Russia) is high; it is printed on fine, high-density white laid paper with excellent readability and nice font, the text contains six well-executed engraved subject vignettes. 5) The graphic significance of the book is extremely high. It contains 10 engraved portraits of historical persons on separate sheets. 6) The collection value of the book is also high. It is included in the collection of Russian illustrated editions, books about Peter I, Russian iconography and, of course, among the "documented rarities", which (alas) are the subject of collection for this one quality.
N.I. Novikov The experience of a historical dictionary about Russian writers: Nikolai Novikov collected from various printed and manuscript books, reported news and verbal legends. SPb .: [type. Acad. sciences]. 1772., 264 pp.
1) The cultural significance of the book is very high. The book is a "milestone" in national history Literature, the first dictionary of writers, which contains information about more than 300 Russian writers. 2) The actual rarity of the book, documented and bibliographically confirmed, has been known for a long time. The book was printed in the amount of 606 copies, of which more than 150 have hardly survived in full at present. 3) The functional significance of the book is high. The Dictionary was reprinted three times: in 1867 (600 copies), in 1951 and in 1987 (facsimile). 4) Aesthetics. Novikov's Dictionary is not a monument of book art, although for its time the book was “well-done” in terms of printing. 5) The book has no graphic meaning. 6) The book is of collectible value for collections on the bibliography of Russian literature, biographical collections, collections of so-called "Novikov" editions, as well as collections of "rarities". Detailed analysis and synthesis in the process of assessing the degree of “rarity” seems to be worthy of attention and, probably, useful in the formation of the structure of such a complex concept as “book rarity”. Does the assessment of specific book rarities change over time? Undoubtedly. If any sign of the publication changes, then the assessment changes in one direction or another. Despite the fact that over time, rare books become even more rare, the demand for them may decrease. This happens when the signs of functionality and collectibility change. So, in the last century and at the beginning of the present there were many bibliophiles-collectors of mystical (Masonic) literature of the 18th - early 19th centuries. And in our "rationalistic" time there are few collectors of this literature. Due to such reasons, on the counters of antique shops you can find well-known book rarities that have been waiting for their buyer for a long time. A persistent interest (based on functionality) remains in antique books on the history of cities and localities, in literature on the history and ethnography of various peoples of Russia, and travel descriptions. Consider one of these books.
[Chulkov M.D.] Dictionary of Russian superstitions. SPb., Type. Shnor. 1782., 271, p. 8 °. Very rare.
Here is what A.N. Pypin: “This book is remarkable as the first purely ethnographic attempt of its time” (17). It is quite natural that the cultural significance of M.D. Chulkov as the first ethnographic publication is unshakable and high. But this book has not lost its direct functional significance today. Mikhail Dmitrievich Chulkov (c. 1742-1793) - a remarkable literary man of the 18th century, author of many works on ethnography, on the history of Russian trade and commerce, works of fiction, including the rare novel "Appreciating the Cook" (St. Petersburg, 1770), publisher satirical magazines "And that, and sio" (St. Petersburg, 1769) and "Parnassian scribe" (St. Petersburg, 1770). All publications of M.D. Chulkov's are first-class, hard-to-find rarities. The "Dictionary of Russian Superstitions" was reissued four years later under the title "Abevega of Russian Superstitions, Idolatrous Sacrifices, Common People's Wedding Rites, Witchcraft, Shamanism, etc., composed by M. Ch." (M., 1786). This book is also very rare. The "Dictionary" contains various articles alphabetically, for example: "Agrafenin's Day", "Adam's Head", "Dazhbog", "Brownie", "The Sun Is Playing", etc. The most informative and significant in terms of volume are the following articles: "Marriage" (description of wedding ceremonies at different nations Russia), "Faith" (about the religious cults of the "Kamchadals", "Kalmyks", "Cheremis", "Votyaks", narratives "from the Nikon Chronicle)," Graves "(about funeral rites)," Motherland "(rituals during childbirth). When analyzing the concept of "book rarity" it is impossible to ignore the question of the value of book rarity in the direct, ie, value sense. What should be the price of a rare book? World practice has long answered this question. The price for a "rarity" cannot be set, one can only estimate its lower limit approximately. Auction practice is most important in the evaluation of rare books today. But, unfortunately, the statement of a great connoisseur of rare books, the publisher of the "Russian Bibliophile" N.V. Solovyova: “In general, the prices for books on the current (Russian) antique market are completely arbitrary and are created exclusively under the influence of the bookseller's appetites or the degree of customer enthusiasm. The absence of book auctions currently takes away any possibility of any conditional taxation of a rare book. Complaints about disproportionate and unfair price increases for random books for last years are absolutely fair ”(18). In our time, there is another obstacle to an objective expert assessment of book rarities. This is a completely unjustified inclusion of rare books in price-list catalogs (19). How can you value single (and even unique) copies on a par with mass editions ?! What are the evaluation criteria? So, for example, the catalog-price list for the General History includes a lot of Peter's editions! Some of them are known only in single copies. For example, Pekarsky's book “ Short description about wars, from the books of the Caesarites ... "(M., 1711) was known in 4 copies, and the book" History of the destruction of the last holy city of Jerusalem ... "(M., 1713) - in two copies (20). And there are many such examples. What is the “starting point” for pricing these unique editions, along with evaluating enough “run-of-the-mill” books? Truly, it is the power of incompetence! There is nothing easier than rewriting the catalog of the best book depository in the country and blindly assessing it at random! The catalogs-price lists include many wonderful book rarities that require a purely individual assessment. Such are the "Experience of the Historical Dictionary of Russian Writers" (St. Petersburg, 1772) by N.I. Novikov, "Dictionary of Russian superstitions" (St. Petersburg, 1782) M.D. Chulkov, "Description of the land of Kamchatka ..." (St. Petersburg, 1755) S.P. Krasheninnikova and others. And the prices set for them are not for price lists! It is necessary to revise the practice of compiling such "price lists". Without experts - connoisseurs of Russian books, such “catalogs” cannot be compiled, and the existing inconsistencies in the assessment in catalogs should be corrected, since the practical application of such “catalogs-price lists” to a rare Russian book discredits and disorients the entire domestic book trade. The 18th century in Russian history is rich in events, and its significance is especially in the development of Russian culture. Since the beginning of the 18th century, since the introduction of the civil type by Peter I, the history of the Russian printed book has a special history. Therefore, according to tradition, in the bibliography of books of the civil press of the 18th century, books published in the time of Peter the Great are allocated in a special section, they are a kind of "incunabula" of the civil press. Nowadays they are all very rare, and in terms of "cultural significance" (in terms of the above), their position is unshakably high. AV Petrov, a well-known bibliographer and collector of books from the time of Peter the Great, said about these books: “Few books survived from the time of Peter: how many of them rotted away in the basements that were flooded during floods, how many generations of rats have grown, fed on printed paper so valued by nimble four-legged grocery stores, how many books were worn out, destroyed, sold to paper mills, burned in fires ... These books are interesting in content, but they, as Mr. V. Rozanov shrewdly remarked about Lomonosov's publications, should not only be read, but also kissed "(21). The books of the 18th century rightfully stand out in the history of Russian literacy. They, as milestones, marked the path traversed by domestic pioneers in science and literature. The book of the 18th century reflects the growth of intellectual potential, which eventually became the basis for the brilliant achievements of our culture in the 19th century. But the further the "eighteenth" century leaves us, our knowledge about it becomes more and more simplified, becomes "secondary"; and the original ones, from contemporary books, are more and more difficult to access. Undoubtedly, good bibliographic publications on the book of the 18th century are needed, as guides in an unfamiliar area, works similar to those published by Guberti (2). If there are no new, major works on the book of the 18th century, then, of course, it is necessary to republish the old ones, especially since most of the old bibliographic books are “bibliographic rarities”. The task of a bibliographic guide-reference on a rare book of the 18th century is largely performed by the book compiled by Yu. Bitovt: "Rare Russian books and volatile editions of the 18th century", which contains information about rare books based on the works of famous Russian bibliographers and collectors: G. N. Gennadi, N.V. Guberti, I.M. Ostroglazova, V.A. Vereshchagin, D.V. Ulyaninsky and others, as well as printed bookseller catalogs of famous antique dealers, second-hand booksellers.
Yuri Yulianovich Bitovt was not a great connoisseur of rare books, he did not have a collection of books, but he was a hardworking bibliographer-compiler, compiled an extensive card index of various bibliographies and published a number of bibliographic indexes, the range of application of which is surprising: here and “Count L. Tolstoy in literature and art "(M., 1903), and" Book about books. An explanatory index of books for self-education in all branches of knowledge ”(Moscow, 1907). His main work was the compilation of the "Russian Bibliography" - a consolidated catalog of books published in Russia since 1708. The first two volumes (unpublished) were completed and material was prepared for the next two volumes, and the entire edition was supposed to consist of 15-20 volumes. Yuri Yulianovich Bitovt is an outstanding bibliographer, an active member of the Moscow Bibliographic Circle at Moscow University. It was he who was among those bibliographers who gave great importance the development of a unified methodology for bibliographic description, and one of the first in practice began to approach the compilation of bibliographic descriptions from a scientific standpoint, turning this industry from the field of amateurism and hobby into a special scientific discipline. Yu. Bitovt described the famous library of the merchant and outstanding collector Konstantin Makarovich Solovyov, compiled practical guidelines for the bibliographic description of books. Yuri Bitovt's catalog "Rare Russian Books and Volatile Editions of the 18th Century" is one of the fundamental reference books on Russian bibliography, published before the revolution. He enjoys consistent prestige among bibliophiles, collectors and deserved respect among professional bibliographers. Considerably inferior to the "Consolidated Catalog of the Russian Book of the 18th Century" in terms of completeness and method of bibliographic description, the book contains a colossal amount of valuable practical information based on knowledge of the antiquarian book market of Russia at the end XIX-beginning XX century. The catalog allows you to assess the degree of rarity of the books presented in it, provides information about the stores in which certain rarities were sold, and allows you to get an idea of the prices for them. It was Yuri Bitovt who approached the establishment of the rarity of a particular book, proceeding from a clear criterion of its occurrence on sale and its presence in the largest collections. Among the pre-revolutionary bibliographic publications dedicated to the Russian civil book of the 18th century, Yuri Bitovt's catalog was the most complete (it included more than 3000 descriptions of book rarities) and scientifically valuable. Like all publications on bibliography, Yuri Bitovt's book was published in a small print run and soon ceased to appear on the free sale. The last printed bibliographic work of Bitovt is "Catalog of the library of Konstantin Solovyov" (Moscow, 1914), published in an amount of 50 copies. (25 - tray and 25 - 50 rubles each). This is the edition of D.V. Ulyaninsky noted with a sharply critical review (22), where he stated that "any sensible bibliophile, having familiarized himself with this creation of Mr. Bitovt, notorious for his pretentious bibliographic speeches, is unlikely to agree to pay even a tenth for it." In the review, Ulyaninsky rightly reproached Bitovt for being ignorant of obvious bibliographic information (in particular, on the example of the editions of "Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow" by A.N. Radishchev) and summarized the remarks quite sharply: is he then a bibliographer? And if he deliberately kept silent about it, then so much the worse. " Yu.Yu. Bitovt, of course, can be considered a bibliographer, but he was not a bibliophile, he was not an expert on books. Bitovt was a bibliographer for the sake of bibliography. This naturally makes him completely dependent on the authorities (sources of information) and does not make it possible to have his own point of view on the subject of description (in any case, the correct one). This conclusion is confirmed in his "Rare Russian Books of the 18th Century": as soon as something "from the author" appears in the description of a book, it is out of place. For example: S. 53, No. 257-261, "Book of the charter of the sea ..." (St. Petersburg, 1720). This book is believed to have been written by Peter I. There are several types of this edition with different output data (page numbering, number of appendices). These copies are described in detail in the bibliographies of books of Peter the Great's time. But the conclusion made by Bitovt does not follow from this at all: "This first edition of the Marine Charter was printed obviously in an enormous number of copies and now comes across quite often." Quite the opposite, all editions of the "Ustav" are extremely rare. And the first is especially. In the well-known library A.V. Petrov, in the collection of books from the time of Peter the Great, there was only one copy of the "Ustav", although it is known that A.V. Petrov kept doublets whenever possible (all the more different in terms of output data). And the price of P. Shibanov (15 rubles) is not for a "frequent" book. But, be that as it may, there is no better reference book and in the near future, obviously, there will not be. TO today the words of V.A. Vereshchagin: “... any bibliographic research that generally requires an enormous expenditure of labor and time is also associated with completely unique difficulties. The fact is that due to the exceptional poverty in bibliographic journals and works, the lack of detailed catalogs and book auctions, the almost universal ignorance of our second-hand booksellers ... and the lack of amateurs ... the acquisition of the most insignificant materials always entails significant, and sometimes completely in vain loss of time ”(4). In the book of Bitovt, the main bibliographic sources of the used information about the rare book are indicated, references are given for each position. After 1905 (the time when Bitovt's book was published), a number of bibliographic works were published, which can serve as a source of additional information on the book of the 18th century. These are the "Consolidated catalog of the Russian book of the civil press of the 18th century, 1725-1800" (M., 1962-1967. Vol. 1-5), "Materials for the bibliography of Russian illustrated editions" (St. Petersburg, 1908-1910. Issue 1- 4), N.A. Obolyaninov "Catalog of Russian illustrated editions (1725-1860)" (M., 1914-1915. Vol. 1-2), A.V. Petrov “Library of A.V. Petrov. Collection of books published during the reign of Peter the Great "(St. Petersburg. 1913)," Library of D.V. Ulyaninsky. Bibliographic description "(M., 1912-1915. Vol. 1-3), N.P. Smirnov-Sokolsky “My library. Bibliographic description "(M., 1969. Vol. 1-2).
NOTES:
1. Gennadi G.N. Russian book rarities: Bibliographic list of Russian rare books. SPb., 1872
2. Guberti N.V. Materials for Russian bibliography: Chronologue, a review of rare and remarkable Russian books of the 18th century, printed in Russia in civilian type. 1725-1800. M., Society of Russian History and Antiquities at Moscow University, 1878-1891. Issue 1-3.
3. Ostroglazov I.M. Book rarities of I.M. Ostroglazova. (From the "Russian Archive", 1892). Moscow, in the University type., 1892.
4. Vereshchagin V.A. Russian illustrated editions of the 18th and 19th centuries (1720-1870). Bibliographic experience. SPb., Type. V. Kirshbaum. 1898.
5. Ulyaninsky D.V. Among the books and their friends. Moscow, M. Ya. Paradelov, 1903. Part 1.
6. Malein A.I., Fleer M.G. About a rare book. Moscow-Pg., GIZ, 1923, p. 26
7. Ulyaninsky N.Yu. On bibliophilia: (Facts and thoughts), "Bibliophile's Almanac". Leningrad, 1929, p. 20.
8. Markushevich A.I. On book rarities, "Bibliophile's Almanac". Moscow, 1973.
9. Novikov N.I. Experience of the Historical Dictionary of Russian Writers. SPb., 1772.
10. Pushkin A.S. Collected Works. SPb., Brockhaus-Efron, 1907-1915. Vol. 1-6 (Bk of great writers. Edited by S.A. Vengerov).
11. Pushkin A.S. Works by Alexander Pushkin. SPb., 1838-1841. T. 1-11.
12. Rozanov V.V. Fallen leaves. The first box. SPb .. 1913.
13. Tatishchev V.N. Russian history from the most ancient times. SPb., 1768-1784. Book. 1-4, M., 1848. Book. 5.
14. Iroic song about the campaign against the Polovtsy of the appanage prince of Novgorod-Seversky Igor Svyatoslavich. M., Senate type., 1800.
15. Fonvizin D.I. Full composition of writings. M., 1830. Ch. 1-4.
16. Warriors Vs. Exhibition "Russian and Foreign Book". The old years. 1914. No. 4, pp. 37-43.
17. Pypin A.N. History of Russian ethnography. SPb., 1890.Vol. 1, p. 69.
18. Soloviev N.V. The price of books and book trade. The old years. 1908. No. 1.
19. Scientific and reference literature - art. Catalog-price list for the purchase and sale of second-hand and antique books. M., 1977. Fiction... Catalog-price list for the purchase and sale of second-hand and antique books. M., 1977. General history. Catalog-price list of second-hand books. M., 1978-1981. Part 1-2.
20. Pekarsky P.P. Science and Literature in Russia under Peter the Great. SPb., 1862.T.1-2.
21. Petrov A.V. Library A.V. Petrov. Collection of books published during the reign of Peter the Great. Russian bibliophile. 1914. No. 2, pp. 32-34.
22. Ulyaninsky D.V. Catalog of the library of Konstantin Makarovich Solovyov. "Bibliographic Izvestia" 1914. No. 1-2.
Grigory Nikolaevich Gennadi Date of birth ... Wikipedia
Gennadi- Gennadi, Grigory Nikolaevich Grigory Nikolaevich Gennadi Date of birth: 18 (30) March 1826 (18260330) ... Wikipedia
Grigory Gennadi
Grigory Nikolaevich Gennadi- G.N. Gennadi Grigory Nikolaevich Gennadi (18 (30) March 1826, St. Petersburg 26 February (9 March) 1880, ibid.) Russian bibliographer, bibliophile and historian of Russian literature of the XIX century. Contents 1 Biography ... Wikipedia
Pnin, Ivan Petrovich- Writer; the bastard son of Prince Nikolai Vasilyevich Repnin (born 1734, died 1801), Pnin was born in 1773 and was educated first at the Moscow University Noble Pension (from 1784), and then at the Artillery Engineering ... ...
Gennadi, Grigory Nikolaevich- famous bibliographer and bibliophile; was born on March 18, 1826 in St. Petersburg. His ancestors were Greeks. Grandfather, Alexander Gennadi, having moved to Russia, served at the court of Empress Catherine II. He was listed in the lists of the Semenovsky regiment and at one time ... ... Big biographical encyclopedia
Spiridov, Matvey Grigorievich- famous Russian genealogist, senator, son of the famous admiral Grigory Andreevich S., born in 1751, died in 1829; biographical information about external events in his life is rather scarce; it is known that upon reaching the age of majority he ... ... Big biographical encyclopedia
Gennadi Grigory Nikolaevich- Gennadi, Grigory Nikolaevich is a famous bibliographer (1826 1880). He graduated from the course at the Faculty of Law of St. Petersburg University. In 1861 1863 he was a world mediator in the Sychevsky district; then he lived the life of a rich man who gave his ... ... Biographical Dictionary
Buturlin, Count Dimitri Petrovich- the son of Count Peter Alexandrovich, director of the Imperial Hermitage, a well-known bibliophile; genus. December 14, 1763, d. November 7, 1829 in Florence. His successor was Empress Catherine II, who granted him a sergeant at the very baptism ... ... Big biographical encyclopedia
Lachinova, Ekaterina Petrovna- (nee Shelashnikova) writer; the wife of General Nikolai Yemelyanovich, wrote under the pseudonym "Khamar Dabanov". In 1842, an excerpt from her novel "Zakuban Kharamzadeh" was placed in 54 volumes. "Libraries for Reading", ... ... Big biographical encyclopedia
Gennadi Grigory Nikolaevich- (1826 1880), Russian bibliographer. Proceedings: the index "Literature of Russian bibliography" (1858), biobibliographic "Reference dictionary of Russian writers and scientists who died in the XVIII XIX centuries ..." (v. 1 3, letters AR, published in 1876 1906). * * * ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary
N.B.
Russian book rarities
Experience in bibliographic description of rare books with an indication of their value
Part II
Augustine, blessed. An abbreviated psalter presented in verses. P ... A ... Yaroslavl 1785.4 o.
2. Agafi, A. Fables. Astrakhan. 1814.4 p.
Rarely printed in the provinces, and moreover in a long time ago.
Shibanov No. 13-10 p. Shibanov No. 35-5 p.
3. Aglaya. 2 parts. M., 1794-1795.
The publisher of this rather rare literary collection was N.M. Karamzin, who placed here, among others, his works. In 1796 Aglaya was published in a second edition, also in two parts. Sopikov No. 5056 and 5057. Gennadi, Dictionary, vol. II. Berezin-Shiryaev, p. 291.
Gauthier No. 5644a (1st edition) - 2 rubles. 50 K. Gauthier No. 5644b. (2nd edition) - 2 p. Shibanov No. 37 (collective specimen) - 3 rubles. Shibanov No. 72 (1st and 2nd ed., After) - 3 p.
4. Infernal mail, or the correspondence of a lame devil with a crooked, for 1769. Published by F. Emin. SPb. 1769.
This very curious magazine, ridiculing various human weaknesses and vices, was published for only seven months (from July 1769). In 1788 this magazine was published in the second edition without division into months under the title "Courier from Hell with Letters. Works by F. Emin. St. Petersburg 1788". (See Emin, F.). It is rarely found in good and clean condition.
Gaultier No. 1525 (incomplete) - 5 rubles. Gaultier No. 3649 a (6 months) - 15 p. Gauthier No. 3649b (specimen Def.) - 5 rubles.
5. Akathist to the Protection of Our Lady of the Holy Virgin and the Ever-Virgin Mary. Ruzaevka, Struyskoe identity, 1796.
The last work of the Ruzaevskaya printing house, which appeared during the lifetime of Struisky. Rare. Guberty, III, no. 172.
6. Alkaran about Mohammed or Turkish law. Translated from French in Russian. It will be printed by the order of the Imperial Majesty. SPb. 1716. On the sheet.
Translated by I. Postnikov. Copies with a title page represent the greatest rarity: there are no such copies either in the Academic or in the Public Libraries, and they have not even been seen by our well-known bibliographers Sopikov, Stroyev, Pekarsky, Karataev, etc. Bibliographic Notes of 1892, No. 1, p. 26-27; Berezin-Shiryaev, Review, p. 2. Sopikov No. 1926.
Klochkov No. 335 - 100 rubles.
7. Alphabetical Lists of all parts of the capital city of Moscow, houses and lands, equal to stone buildings with an indication in which quarter and on which street or lane they are. M. 1818. On the sheet.
Rare.
Shibanov No. 54-35 p.
8. Ambodik, Nestor Maksimovich. The art of twisting, or the science of women’s business, in six parts. In the city of S. Peter 1784-1786.
With engraved frontispiece, portrait of the author and 33 tables of figures. According to Sopikov (no. 4671) it is listed as "rare". Valued up to 15 rubles.
9. Amphilochius, archim. Apocalypse of the XIV century, corrected according to the Apocalypse, corrected and written by St. Alexy Metropolitan, with a painting of St. John the Theologian from the Greek. New Head XII-XIII centuries And 20 paintings of the 17th century. From the facial Apocalypse of the 18th century. My meeting; with an attachment when explaining the pictures of the full text of the Apocalyptic, written by St. Alexy Metropolitan word for word and line for line. M. 1887.4 p.
With painted drawings. Such copies are among the rarities, since only ten copies of them were printed.
Paradels No. 5 - 25 rubles.
10. Aonids, or a collection of various new poems. 3 parts. M. 1796-1799. 12 p.
A rather rare collection published by N.M. Karamzin. Sopikov No. 1996. Berezin-Shiryaev, p. 403. Burtsev No. 50.
Gaultier No. 1254 (2 parts) - 2 rubles. 50 K. Shibanov No. 72 - 5 rubles
11. Apostle. Printed in The Gaga in 1717.
In Church Slavonic. A rarity, since there was an order to destroy it. Bibliographic Notes 1892 No. 5, p.6.
12. Home and travel pharmacy, revised for doctors together with complete list laundry for households and travelers, also with a table of income and expenses and with a permanent calendar. The original edition for the thieves' reprint with the seal of my name noticed. Leipzig at K.G.E. Aridt during fairs in the square in a shop close to the upper lantern on the middle main row. 16 p.
Without designation of the year of printing (1816). The rarest brochure. Gennadi No. 223.
Gaultier No. 1510 - 20 rubles. Gaultier No. 3647 - 10 rubles. Shibanov number 13 - 8 rubles. Shibanov number 26 - 3 rubles. Soloviev No. 1 - 15 p.
13. Pharmacy home and travel medicine. A review along with a complete list of laundry and business items. All-day calendar, original edition. M. Birdie. 16 p.
With 4 slate writing boards. Thieves' reprint of the first quarter of the 19th century from the previous book. The book was published in Bordichev, sloppy, with a mass of typos and grammatical errors.
Shibanov number 13 - 8 rubles.
14. Arkadiev, E.I. Materials for the index of literature of military bibliography and library science. M. 1892.
Printed in a quantity of 25 copies. Bibliographic Notes 1892 No. 3.
15. Arkhangelsky, A.D. V. Grigorovich and Russian literature of the forties. Regarding the fifty-year activity of D.V. Grigorovich. (Historical references and dates), Kazan. 1894.16 p.
Printed in an amount of 50 copies. Book science 1896, No. 4, p. 160.
16. Babikov, K. From cradle to grave. Man and woman.
Very rare. Valued up to 15 rubles. Burtsev No. 446/11.
17. Balkashin, N.N. About the Kirghiz and in general about the Muslims subject to Russia. SPb. 1887.
Printed in a quantity of 50 copies. Bibliographer 1887, No. 6, p. 272.
18. Barsky, V.G. Travel to the Holy Places in Europe, Asia and Africa in 1723, 1717 Ed. 2nd. Klintsy 1788. On the sheet.
A very rare edition printed by schismatics and remarkable in that instead of foreign words, placed in the St. Petersburg edition, left gaps, probably due to the lack of fonts. Printed at the Rukavishnikov printing house. Bibliographic. Zap. 1859, p. 279.
Gaultier No. 531 - 20 rubles. Paradels number 10 - 25 rubles.
19. Bezgin, I. G. Prince Bekovich-Cherkassky expedition to Khiva and the embassy of the fleet of Lieutenant Kozhin and Murza Tevkelev to India to the Great Mogul (1714-1717). Bibliographic monograph. SPb. 1891.16 p.
Printed in a limited number of copies and did not go on sale. Book science 1894 No. 3, Art. Storozheva, s. 4.
20. Berg, F. Spectacles of the 17th century in Moscow. Feature article. SPb. 1886.
Printed in an amount of 50 copies. Bibliographer 1886. No. 12.
21. Berkh, V. Systematic lists of boyars, okolnich and Duma nobles from 1468 to the destruction of these ranks. SPb. 1833.
The book is one of the rarities. Savelov, Index, No. 52.
Klochkov No. 207 - 5 rubles.
22. Bibikov. Notes on the life and service of Alexander Ilyich Bibikov. SPb. 1817.
With an engraved portrait of Bibikov by Utkin. Copies with portraits are rare.
Gaultier number 26 - 3 p. Klochkov No. 3178 - 2 rubles. Soloviev No. 7 - 2 p. 50 K. Shibanov No. 43 - 3 rubles. Shibanov number 68 - 3 r. Shibanov No. 106 - 3 r.
23. Library scientist: economic, moralizing, historical and entertainment for the benefit and pleasure of every title of readers. 12 parts. Tobolsk. 1783-1794.
The publisher of this "Library" was P.P. Sumarokov, who previously published the Irtysh Turning into Ipokrene. Sumarokov intended to publish it in one year, one book a month, but the small number of subscribers (111 in total) and other reasons prevented this and the "Library" was issued to subscribers every two months. Complete copies of The Library are very rare. A detailed bibliographic description of this "Library" was published by A.N. Neustroyev in St. Petersburg. In 1884, in the amount of 150 copies that did not go on sale. Burtsev No. 106. Bibliographic Notes of 1802 No. 7, appendix.
Shibanov number 13 - 75 rubles. Shibanov number 46 (part I) - 5 rubles. Gauthier No. 4317a - 65 rubles. Gaultier No. 4317b (broken, each part by) - 3 rubles. Shibanov No. 63 (8 parts) - 25 rubles.
24. Bible: printed in St. Petersburg in 1739. On the sheet.
Only 139 sheets were printed (according to the 19th verse of the 15th chapter of the 3rd book of Ezra). Further printing of this so-called "Anninsky" Bible was discontinued, and the printed sheets were destroyed for their incorrectness. The rarest. Sopikov No. 111. Burtsev No. 107. Gennadi No. 10. Report of the Imperials. Public Library for 1867. Undolsky № 1866.
25. Bilbasov, V. The first political letters of Catherine II. SPb. 1887.
Printed in a quantity of 48 copies. Rarity.
Klochkov No. 335 - 15 rubles.
26. Bibliorum codex sinaiticus petropolitanus. Auspiciis Augustissimis Imperatoris Alexandri II. Ex tenebris protraxit in europam transtulit ad iuvandas atque illustrandas sacras litteras edidit C. Tischendorf. Petropoli MDCCCLXII. In four volumes. On the sheet.
Published at the behest of Emperor Alexander II in a small number of copies.
Klochkov, Bibliographer No. 3, 1888, p. 159 - 300 rubles.
27. Boalo, G. free translation of the fifth and seventh satyrs by G. Boalo. Kazan 1813.
Translated from French by A. Soloviev. As printed in the provinces, it is one of the very rare brochures.
28. (Bogdanovich, I.F.) Dushinka's adventures, a fairy tale in verse. Published by Mi. Ka. Book I. M. 1778.
This is the first, incomplete, edition of the famous "Darling". In many respects different from the full edition: The book was published by Count M. Kamensky. Very rare. Sopikov No. 3550. Gennadi, p. 84. Book Science, 1895, No. 4-5, Art. Shchurov (all editions of "Darling" are described here).
29. (Bode-Kolychev, baron). The boyar clan of the Kolychevs. M. 1886.4 o
With genealogical tables. Printed in a limited number, not for sale.
Shibanov number 47 - 20 rubles.
30. Bolkhovitinov, E.A. (Metropolitan Eugene). Historical, geographical and economic description Voronezh province... Voronezh 1800.4 o
Quite rare
Gaultier number 36 - 8 rubles. Klochkov No. 319 - 10 rubles. Shibanov No. 63 - 12 rubles.
31. Bulgakovsky, D. Folk children's holiday in the estate of G. D. Naryshkin, new Zhagorah, St. Petersburg. 1897.
This brochure is printed in 50 copies. Burtsev No. 997.
32. Bulygin, V. speech given at the solemn meeting of the Imperial Kazan University on the 17th of January 1822 Kazan 1822.
Printed in an amount of 30 copies. Book Science 1894, No. 2, Art. Likhachev.
33. Burachkov, N. General catalog coins belonging to the Hellenic colonies. Odessa 1884.
With 32 coin tables. Rarity.
34. Burtsev, A. Catalog of Russian rare books, collected by the amateur A.B. SPb. 1895.
Contains a description of the rarest books of the A.A. Burtsev. The book was printed in 40 copies and did not go on sale. Burtsev No. 1240? 8.
35. Burtsev, A. Russian book rarities. Bibliographic list of rare books. SPb.
Without specifying the year of printing. Printed in an amount of 50 not for sale. Burtsev No. 1240? 7.
36. Burtsev, A. Fairy tales, stories and legends of the peasants of the Northern Territory. SPb. 1897.
The cover of this book reads: "Printed in an amount of forty not for sale."
Klochkov No. 220 - 15 rubles. Klochkov No. 236 - 20 rubles.
37. Bykov, P. Bibliography of the works of Alexander Stepanovich Afanasyev-Chuzhbinsky (1838-1875). SPb. 1890.
It was printed in a very limited number of copies and did not go on sale.
Klochkov No. 105 - 3 rubles.
38. Bychkov, F.A. Genealogical book of the Bychkov-Rostovsky family of princes and nobles. SPb. 1880.4 p.
Presentation of the new book by M. Seslavinsky "Russian book rarities of the 20th century: 333 selected books" will be held at "Non / Fiction"
Text: Anastasia Skorondaeva / RG
Collage: Year of Literature.RF
A passionate Moscow bibliophile, head of the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications, continues the tradition of compiling catalogs of book rarities, laid down at the end of the 19th century by domestic collectors - Grigory Gennadi, Ivan Ostroglazov and Nikolai Berezin.
The compilation was preceded by a scientific discussion between experts on the topic of the selection criteria for publications. “For several months, we discussed various versions of the list with colleagues - members of the National Union of Bibliophiles Non-Profit Partnership,- Seslavinsky writes in the introductory article. - This process turned out to be very difficult. There are not so many collectors who know the rarities of the twentieth century in all thematic areas. We can safely say that there are enough fingers on one hand to name their names. "
As a result, we settled on several sections, presenting a richly illustrated collection of bibliophilic deceptions of the past century in the following areas -
the first books of famous poets and writers, rare books of the Russian avant-garde, small-circulation bibliophile editions, the most significant and rare children's books, destroyed editions.
Leafing through - it takes your breath away. Here is the Darning Man with amazing drawings. Next - the famous "Tale of a military secret, about Malchish-Kibalchish and his firm word" with drawings - according to the author-compiler, one of the rarest, virtually not found on the antique and second-hand book market. If you scroll through it, you will see a charming fairy tale "Wrinkle" with pictures Mstislav Dobuzhinsky... From the amusing - "Almanac of the Bibliophile" with an article imprint Alberica Cayue with a perky name
"Is a woman a bibliophile?"
Unfortunately, there was no comment on this score from Seslavinsky. It would be interesting to know what modern bibliophiles think about this. In addition, there is in this book a curious note on "Disguise" Vladimir Tambi: "The spectacular illustrations of V. A. Tambi are very loved by many male bibliophiles with a pronounced charisma."
Many books here are supplied with examples of sales at Western and Russian auctions. So, for example, a cult edition for all collectors - a book of poems "Evening" with a cover of the work of the poet Sergei Gorodetsky in April this year went under the hammer for $ 12,000. e. The most "coveted", according to the author, is the publication of the Russian avant-garde - "Tango with Cows" Vasily Kamensky, printed on colored wallpaper in the shape of an irregular pentagon, and at all in 2005 was sold for 60,000 USD. e.
Summing up, he quotes the director of the State Public Historical Library, a member of the National Union of Bibliophiles Mikhail Afanasyev: « This list- not a catalog for all times, but an excellent and necessary fixation of the current state of the bibliophile value system. An attempt to include in it something rare on a formal basis, which does not meet the desire to acquire this book as a rarity, only ruins the integrity of the list, and does not add it ... "
The publication "Russian book rarities of the 20th century: 333 selected books" will be presented by Mikhail Seslavinsky to the public at the International Fair of Intellectual Literature non / fictioN18 December 3 v 14:00 in the seminar zone No. 2.
