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[RODCHENKO AND STEPANOVA] Krasnoe studenchestvo [i.e. Red Studentship] #5 for 1929/1930

Moscow: Gosizdat, 1929. Item #1391

24 pp.: ill. 30x21 cm. In original illustrated wrappers. A small tear of the spine, some soiling of the back cover, otherwise very good and clean copy.

Edited by the old revolutionary Samuil Chudnovskii (1889- 1937) who later became a victim of the Great Purge.
An issue of the periodical that was published under the title Krasnaya molodëzh [i.e. Red Youth] in 1924-1925, under the title Krasnoye studenchestvo [i.e.Red Studentship] in 1925-1935, and under the title Sovetskoye studenchestvo [i.e. Soviet Studentship] in 1936-1967. The only mass social, political, literary, and artistic illustrated magazine for students, the periodical was regarded as the organ of the Central Bureau of Proletarian Students of the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions. Red Studentship was supervised by N. Krupskaia who was later fired from mass work with students.
The edition changed format several times – sometimes it looked like a pocketbook, and sometimes it was issued the size of a newspaper. The periodical attracted different Soviet designers. The most recognizable covers were created by Varvara Stepanova (1894-1958). Issues designed by her began with a letterpress design that combined the two words of the title via the letter “S”. In this cover design, all the words are printed in violet blue, as in the photo of a lecture hall; the same color was used for a subscription ad on the back cover. Internally, the issue represents an exemplary constructivist layout. Stepanova played with fonts and printer’s borders to attract readers’ attention.
The issue contained photographs of some of the political posters that hung on the walls in institutes and at evening courses. Some of the photographs were taken by Alexander Rodchenko (1891- 1956), who was a regular contributor to the magazine in this period. For example, the central double-page spread contains his photos of a hydroplane DM-1 (boat) that was constructed by VKHUTEIN students. They produced it on an institute staircase as they had no premises or finances. The boat was later used in propaganda campaigns.

No paper copies of this issue found in Worldcat.

Price: $1,750.00