Bookvica

[PERIODICAL ABOUT BOOKS] Knigonosha [i.e. Wandering Bookseller]

Item #1024

#1-11, 12/13, 14, 15/16, 17-21, 22/23, 24-30, 31/32, 33/34, 35, 36/37, 38, 39/40 for 1925. Overall 35 issues. Moscow: Gosizdat, 1925. 34x26 cm. In contemporary binding; original wrappers preserved. In general, most issues are in a very good condition. Binding with first 18 pages and last issue detached from the rest block, p. 19-21 (#1) detached, tears, two small holes (#20). Otherwise very good internally. Binding rubbed, with tear of the spine.
Printrun varries 6 000-10 000 copies. Very rare.
Cover design of #1-24 was produced by artist Harry Clinch - pseudonym of Boris Petrushansky (1892-1946) - a Soviet graphic artist and caricaturist who contributed to ‘Bezbozhnik’ and ‘Krokodil’, designed books and posters. Petrushansky skillfully combined photomontage with caricature. Later this technique was used by many designers of satirical magazines and posters, including the 1970s-1980s. Starting from issue #25, the cover design turned to constructivism and the initials of unknown artist G.B. appeared on the lower edge.
This is a year set of early Soviet bookish magazine published in 1923-24 as a newspaper and in 1924-1926 as a magazine. In Russia, knigonosha meant ‘‘one who carries books and sells them in the province’’.
This edition was a monthly periodical provided critics on books published and held in libraries, as well as discussions of the book industry. As an organ of communist state publishers, the journal listed as many books as possible, including different subjects. One of the main focuses was on national publishing business, libraries in Soviet Republics and books in national languages. The section Bibliography might list books in Uzbek, Georgian, Armenian, Tatar, Mari, Kalmyk, etc. They were gathered in national groups or joined lists like ‘Manuals for Anti-Religious Campaign’, ‘International Women’s Day and Literature for Female Workers and Peasants’, ‘Literature on Aviation and Aeronautics’.
Another relevant topic of articles was promoting books in general. The magazine included constructivist library posters about Lenin as a reader (#5 p. 5) and advised how to design posters for reading rooms and libraries.
Curious advertisements of NEP publishers and their magazines were printed in every issue. A list of articles for 1924 was printed as a supplement to #12/13. A list of articles for 1925 is attached at the end.

No paper copies of 1925 issues located in Worldcat. 1923-1924 issues in LoC, some 1926 issues in Princeton University.

Price: $950.00