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[SCIENCE AND THE SOVIET UNION] Iskry nauki [i.e. Sparks of Science]

Item #996

Moscow: Izdatelstvo “Gudok”, 1925-1931. #1-12 of 1927. A full run of the year bound in a single volume. Ca. 29,6x23,2 cm. In contemporary binding. Creases at the hinges, slightly rubbed, #3 lacks the front wrapper, #4,5 lack the rear wrapper, #6 lacks the pp. 239-240, #7 lacks the pp. 279-280 and the rear wrapper, #10 lacks the pp. 399-400 and the rear wrapper, #11 lacks the pp. 447-448 and the rare wrapper. Otherwise in a very good condition.

A RARE COLLECTION OF THE SOVIET SCIENCE MAGAZINE ISKRY NAUKI [I.E. SPARKS OF SCIENCE].

Full run of 1927 (#1-12) bound in a single volume. Scarce.

Published from 1925 until 1931, this popular science magazine provided information on a variety of disciplines, from astronomy and geography to physics and medicine. Its goal, as set out in the first issue, was to help the worker, to impart to him the greatest amount of knowledge possible about all branches of pure and applied science...” The magazine covered the latest scientific achievements of the Soviet Union and the foreign countries and featured articles dedicated to the aviation, geography, geology, technologies, natural history, chemistry, radio-frequency engineering, the Soviet construction, etc. The publication frequency and the printrun of the magazine varied from year to year. Among the sections presented on the pages of Sparks of Science were Bibliography, Questions and Answers, Among Magazines, Our Memo, etc. Comprising an array of illustrations and photographs (occasionally photomontages), the magazine was distinguishable of all because of the remarkable cover designs that are vividly showcased in the present collection.

In 1927 the periodical was published monthly and all issues were edited by I. Pirogov. The first issues of the 1927 collection feature Oborona SSSR [i.e. Defense of the USSR] section, which provides information on the development of the Soviet transport system, artillery, and defense mechanisms to ensure the Soviet Union’s winning position in the anticipated global war. The editorial board of the magazine pays particular attention to the propaganda of the Soviet industrial, technological, and agricultural accomplishments and features a number of articles on the record-breaking activities of the Soviet workers (Record-Breaking Steel Production. #1., etc). The magazine also comprises secion Bogatstva SSSR [i.e. Wealth of the USSR], which focuses on the natural resources found in the Soviet Union. Especially Interesting is the Q&A section, which is presented in every issue, and is characterized by the abundance of the alcohol and sex-oriented questions: What are the disadvantages of any type of masturbation, and how does it affect the brain and heart? What are the causes of impotence and how to treat it?, etc. The magazine includes articles by M. Levitskiy, F. Bogdanov, A. Zharbov, V. Fektistov, S. Shambinov, as well as sketches by V. Vorontsov-Venyaminov, S. Nekrasov, N. Tolstoy, etc. The issue #12 contains an alphabetical list of the year-long content of the magazine. The wrappers feature colorful illustrations depicting such processes as steel casting at the factory Serp i molot, Moscow; testing of the transmission of a 1,000,000-volt current, etc.

No copies found in Worldcat.

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