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[HARBIN] Orfograficheskii slovar’ [i.e. An Orthographic Dictionary]

Item #1534

Harbin: Iakor’,
1927. 217 pp.+7 pp. of ads. 13x9,5 cm. In original printed wrappers.
Good. Rubbed and soiled, corners of front cover lost, pencil marks
occasionally.
Extremely rare emigre edition.
This handbook contains an orthographic dictionary based
on 1917 changes. Prepared in the early 20th century, the reform of
orthography was accepted by the Provisional Government in May 1917
and formalized by a Bolshevik decree in late December 1917. In October
1918, all Bolshevik printed matters were forced to switch into new
orthography, excluding some “excess” letters and simplifying standards
of writing.
Despite the fact that professional linguists developed the
reform long before the revolution without any political goal, its final
introduction by Bolsheviks at the same time as they seized power
seriously worsened the attitude towards it. New simplified conventions
weren’t used in most publications printed in White-controlled territories
and at emigre publishing houses. Partly, Russian emigre culture adopted
new orthography in the 1940-1950s.
After Kolchaks’ government was defeated, the number of Russian
residents in Manchuria increased. Whole families of refugees and White
officers joined the Russian diaspora working for the Chinese Eastern
Railway. In 1924, the Soviet Union and China signed an agreement to
establish diplomatic relations. The Chinese Eastern Railway remained
in service of Russians, under control of China. This caused a wave of
Soviet officers to arrive in Harbin. Most Harbin residents, in order not to
lose their jobs, had to take Soviet citizenship. Thus this city hosted users
of the new Russian orthography.
About twenty Russian publishing houses ran in Harbin until
the 1950s. The enterprise “Iakor’” published and bound books, operated
as a printing shop and a stationery warehouse. Its advertisements supplement the dictionary, alongside ads for a magazine ‘Youth’, a
bookstore ‘Fire’ and the Chinese Eastern Railway.

Worldcat shows
copies located in
Hawaii University
and Australian
National
University.

Price: $550.00