Moscow, Knebel', 1909
One of Narbut's best books and a very scarce Knebel title. The king of the mushrooms, Borovik tries to get various groups of mushrooms to join the war. The fly agarics, morels, and chanterelles all decline citing that they are too old or that 'their legs are too thin'. The friendly birch milkcaps are the only mushrooms to answer the call to arms, maybe because they're a popular pickled delicacy in Eastern Europe. A student of Bilibin, it is easy to see where Narbut grasped his predilection for bold lines, medieval costumes, and natural forms.
First edition, 4to (29 x 22.5 cm); illustrated throughout by Narbut, with four full page; original printed wrappers, some age toning to lower wrapper, spine strengthened with Japanese paper, remnants of tape to upper and lower cover, a very good copy.
First edition, 4to (29 x 22.5 cm); illustrated throughout by Narbut, with four full page; original printed wrappers, some age toning to lower wrapper, spine strengthened with Japanese paper, remnants of tape to upper and lower cover, a very good copy.
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