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[THEATRICAL MEMOIRS]

Item #417

Full set of the book series ‘‘Teatral’nye memuary’’ [i.e.Theatrical Memoirs. Destinies of Theatre and Theatre Life Depicted by Theatrical Individuals] (1927-1934). Every book was written by significant figure of the history of Russian theatre. The series was edited by Pavel Novitskii (1888-1971), a notable art critic in the constructivist movement.

9.1. Teliakovskii, V.A. Moi sosluzhivets Shaliapin [i.e. My Colleague Chaliapin]. Leningrad: Academia, 1927. 168 pp. 11x15 cm. In original constructivist wrappers by Russian artist Valentina Khodasevich. Good, original dust-wrapper preserved partially, occasional minor stains. First and only edition. One of 6100 copies.

This is edition of Vladimir Teliakovskii’s enlarged and more detailed memoirs about his partnership with Feodor Chaliapin. Vladimir Teliakovskii (1860-1924) was the last director of Russian Imperial Theatres, including Bolshoi and Malyi Theatres, in 1898-1917.

9.2. Bezpalov, V.F. Teatry v dni revoliutsii 1917 goda [i.e. Theatres during Revolution of 1917]. Leningrad: Academia, 1927. 140 pp. 11x15 cm. In original constructivist wrappers by V. Khodasevich. Good, original dust jacket lost, owner’s note on the title page, Soviet bookshop stamps on the back cover. First and only edition. One of 3100 copies.

This is edition of memoirs by Vasilii Bezpalov who was opera singer in pre-revolutionary time and administrator of Petrograd state theatres in unstable 1917. These memoirs became an important source for researches on history of theatre in 1917 that were made in 1930s.

9.3. Savina, M.G. Goresti i skitanija. Zapiski. 1854-1877 [i.e. Sorrows and Tribulations. Notes. 1854-1877]. Leningrad: Academia, 1927. 224 pp., 1 port. 11x15 cm. In original constructivist wrappers by V. Khodasevich. Good, original dust jacket lost, wrappers slightly soiled, minor loss of the bottom of the spine. Second edition. One of 5100 copies.

The edition of memoirs by one of leading Russian actress of 19th century Mariia Savina (1854-1915).

9.4. Chekhov, M.A. Put’ aktera [i.e. The Actor’s Way]. Leningrad: Academia, 1928. 176 pp., 2 port. 11x15 cm. In original wrappers by V. Khodasevich. Original dust jacket lost, losses of the spine, otherwise good. First lifetime edition. One of 6200 copies.

This is edition of memoirs by Mikhail Chekhov (1891-1955) who was brilliant actor and well-known Stanislavsky’s student.

9.5. Val’ts, K.F. 65 let v teatre [i.e. 65 Years in the Theatre]. Leningrad: Academia, 1928. 240 pp., 1 portr. 11x15 cm. In original wrappers and dust jacket by Soviet illustrator and type designer Aleksei Ushin. Very good, owner’s note on the title page. First and lifetime edition. One of 5100 copies.

This is edition of memoirs by Karl Val’ts (1846-1929) who was Russian stage designer. Although he was mainly known for the long work in Bolshoi theatre, several private enterprises attracted him as well. His collaboration with Diaghilev and Stanislavski became the highlight of his carrier.

9.6. Vishnevskii, A.L. Klochki vospominanii [i.e. Scraps of Memoirs]. Leningrad: Academia, 1928. 128 pp., 1 port. 11x15 cm. In original wrappers and dust jacket by A. Ushin. First and only edition. One of 5100 copies.

This is memoirs by Aleksandr Vishnevskii (1861-1943) who was one of the founding actors of Stanislavsky’s Moscow Art Theatre.

9.7. Medvedev, P.M. Vospominaniia [i.e. Memoirs]. Leningrad: Academia, 1929. 360 pp., 1 port. 11x15 cm. In original wrappers by A. Ushin. Very good, original dust jacket lost, stain on upper outer corner throughout several pages, pale water stains on the lower margins. First separate edition. One of 4100 copies.

The edition of memoirs by well-known Russian stage actor and impresario Petr Medvedev (1837-1906). Over 15 private drama and opera theatres were founded under his direction in the different cities. The edition contains the foreword by theatre critic Aleksandr Kugel’ who is also known as founder of Russian parody theatre ‘‘False Mirror’’ (see #10 of this catalogue).

9.8. Shubert, A.I. Moia zhizn’ [i.e. My Life]. Leningrad: Academia, 1929. 312 pp., 1 port. 11x15 cm. In original constructivist wrappers and dust jacket. Very good, few pale bookshop stamps and marks on the dust jacket and recto of back cover. One of 4100 copies.

This is edition of uncompleted memoirs by Aleksandra Shubert (1827-1909) who performed mainly on the stages of many small provincial theatres, which makes her memoirs very curious and valuable.

9.9. Kriger, V.V. Moi zapiski [i.e. My Notes]. Leningrad: Academia, 1930. 120 pp., 1 portr. 11x15 cm. In original constructivist wrappers. Very good, original dust jacket lost, wrappers are detached from the text block. First and only edition. One of 3000 copies.

The edition of memoirs by well-known ballerina Viktorina Kriger (1893-1978). In 1929 she established Moscow Art Ballet Troupe that followed the Stanislavsky’s system. In 1939 this troupe became an important part of Nemirovich-Danchenko’s Music Theater (since 1941 Moscow Academic Music Theater called after K. Stanislavskii and V. Nemirovich-Danchenko). These memoirs are the first Russian book about ballet that was written by ballerina.

9.10. Strepetova, P.A. Vospominanija i pis’ma [i.e. Memoirs and Letters]. Leningrad: Academia, 1934. 590 pp., 18 ill. 11x15 cm. In original brown cloth and constructivist dust jacket by Soviet artist Boris Shvarts. Small tears of the edges of dust jacket, otherwise very good. One of 5300 copies.

The edition of memoirs by Pelageia Strepetova (1850-1903) who performed at the Aleksandrinsky theatre and attracted attention of famous people like V. Nemirovich-Danchenko, P. Tchaikovskii, I. Turgenev.

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