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[SHENGELAIA] Izbrannyy Mayakovskiy [i.e.Selected Mayakovsky]

Mayakovsky, V.

Item #2450

Berlin; Moscow: Nakanune, 1923. 260 p., 1 portrait. 17,6×12.6 cm. In later cloth binding. No wrapper preserved. Additional protective paper tissue pasted in next to portrait. Stamp of the Trade sector of the state publishing house on the title page.

The copy is presented to Demna Shengelaia (1896-1980), Soviet Georgian writer and brother of famous Georgian director and futurist poet Nikolay Shengelaia, both friends of Mayakovsky. The copy is signed on the occasion of Mayakovsky’s trip to Tiflis in August-September of 1924. During these days, Mayakovsky discussed the production of Mystery-Bouffe with director Kote Marzhanishvili and artist Irakli Gamrekeli. The director entrusted the translation of the play to Titian Tabidze. The performance was conceived as a mass spectacle, similar to ancient productions: the location of the production was the lower station of the funicular, a natural amphitheater, natural and artificial scenery, accompaniment - a military orchestra and speech choirs. The performance never took place, but
it’s likely that Shengelaia brothers were involved in the preparation of the play - Nikolay being Marzhanishvili’s student. It is possible Mayakovsky knew the brother beforehand as well, as they all were born not too far from each other in Kutaisi region.

The book itself is an anthology of Mayakovsky’s best writings at the time. In the revolutionary section of the book, the poems "Left March", "Order for the Army of Art", "Poet Worker" are next to the lyrical "Blouse Fata" and "Morning". "The Story of How the Godmother Talked About Wrangel Without Any Mind" along with several other works make up the satirical section. "Cloud in Trousers", "Man" and 150,000,000 represent the author's poems. At the time of publication, this
was Mayakovsky's most extensive collection, his first collected works printed in the Soviet Union.

The stamp on the title page suggest that State Publishing House could have given the copies of this book to the poet to distribute among his friends and colleagues. Like ‘For the Voice’ the book was printed in Berlin.

Price: $5,000.00