Skazka o Tsare Saltane, o syne ego, slavnom i moguchem bogatyr, kniaz Gvidon, i o prekrasnoi tsarevne Lebedi.

£2,250 · Offered by Shapero Rare Books · No longer available

Pushkin's verse was originally published in 1831 and is based on the fairytale his nanny would have told him when he was a child. However, thanks to Pushkin's genius, it is considered more of an original lyrical masterpiece rather than a simple adaptation of the skazka. This edition is wonderfully illustrated by Malyutin, whose watercolours with gilt detail were a strong influence on Bilibin's own interpretation of this work. This edition was published by another Mamantov, Savva's brother, Anatoly. Sergey Malyutin is famous for having designed and painted the first ever Matryohka dolls, a prime example of how the Abramstevo circle created something entirely new but forever iconic based on traditional peasant crafts. The dolls were also sold by Anatoly who set up the Children's Education Workshop. First edition; oblong 8vo (17 x 25 cm); 31pp., chromolithographs throughout after original watercolours by Sergey Malyutin, mostly heightened with gold, slightly faded, stamp and shelf label to title-page and exlibris to verso of wrapper; original printed wrappers, heightened with gold, spine repaired, some leaves loose from wrapper, a good copy.

• Binding: Hardcover

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