Bookvica

[THE EARLY SOVIET BOOK DESIGN]

Item #1056

Four 1920s book and magazine covers. All of them differ from each other in style, number of colors, artists, publishers and even readers. Yet, they were printed for the propaganda of contemporary (and mostly proletarian) culture. All of them are very rare.

Proletarskie prazdniki v rabochikh klubakh [i.e. Proletarian Holidays in Worker’s Clubs]. Moscow: Krasnaia nov’, 1924. In a very good condition, rubbed, repaired, a couple of stains. A notable example of the constructivist design produced for a book about celebrations in workers’ clubs.
2) Shishkov, V. Spektakl’ v sele Ogryzove: Shuteinye rasskazy [i.e. Performance in Ogryzov Village. Humorous Stories]. Leningrad: Kniga, 1924. Very good, stamp of a military printing house. The cover design for the first edition of the book (1926) was changed so this is a unique mockup.
3) Krestianskii internatsional [i.e. Peasant International] #10/12 for 1924. Moscow: Novaia derevnia, 1924. In a very good condition. The front cover of a magazine published in 1924-1926. The magazine ‘Peasant International’ overviewed changes in the Soviet peasantry, the cover features two men from different classes (possibly a worker and a peasant) who became equal after the Revolution.
4) Wells, H.G. Mashina vremeni [i.e. The Time Machine]. Leningrad: [Krasnaia gazeta], 1928. Mockup of front and back covers by A. Ushin. In a very good condition. The most curious of all four covers is this mockup for the Russian edition of ‘The Time Machine’. It was produced by well-known book designer Alexei Ushin (1904-1942) in a laconic and contrast manner, being relevant to the time period. The back cover was supposed to display an advertisement of books by Conan Doyle, Curwood and Wells printed for subscribers in 1928.

According to Worldcat, only one copy of #1 is located in Princeton University, copies of #3 are located in the Library of Congress, Harvard University and NYPL.

Price: $350.00