First edition of a prolific Silver Age work . Leonid Andreev (1871 -1919) was a playwright, novelist and short story writer who was a leading figure of Russian Expressionism. His first collection of stories published in 1901 quickly sold over a quarter of a million copies and henceforth his career as a writer was established. An active participant in social and political debate, many of his writings including Tsar Golod draw on the revolutionary events of contemporary Russia. After initially supporting the Bolsheviks and the February Revolution of 1917 he predicted a catastrophic outcome and died embittered and impoverished in 1919. Thanks to the popularity of Edgar Allan Poe, Andreev's work was translated into English and published in America throughout the 1920s.

Eugene Lanceray, was a member of Mir Isskustva and nephew of Leon Benois and Alexandre Benois.

First edition; 8vo (24 x 16.5 cm); tri-fold pictorial frontispiece, six full-page pictorial section titles and a tail-piece by Lanceray, preliminary leaf with device and title-page, without advertisements, marbled end-papers, some age-toning; bound in later half maroon morocco with marbled boards, spine in six parts with raised bands and gilt title; spine sunned and some rubbing; t.e.g; 126pp.