Skip to content
AUTHENTICITY GUARANTEED | EXPERT ADVICE
AUTHENTICITY GUARANTEED

Les âmes mortes.

Stock Code 112541

Paris Tériade, 1948

Original price £30,000.00 - Original price £30,000.00
Original price £0.00
£30,000.00
£30,000.00 - £30,000.00
Current price £30,000.00
The first major book entirely illustrated by Chagall. Gogol's masterpiece Dead Souls, the first major book entirely illustrated by Chagall and his first illustrations for Vollard. Signed by Chagall on the limitation and title-page.

Written over five years at the end of the long pilgrimage that brought Gogol to Germany, Switzerland, France and Italy, Dead Souls offers a vivid and ruthless portrait of a small swindler in provincial Russia in 1820. Published for the first time in 1842, the novel went on to exert a huge influence over the development of Russian literature.

In 1923 the French publisher Ambroise Vollard asked Chagall to produce an illustrated edition. Chagall, who had always felt a strong emotional connection to the country where he spent his youth, agreed with enthusiasm and pursued the project between 1923 and 1927. However, like many other Vollard projects, the production of the work was interrupted and only completed years later.

The final plate presents a particularly curious image in which Gogol reads and Chagall paints a portrait of Vollard.

Limited edition, one of 50 copies on vélin d'arches filigrané, this being numbered 27, from a total edition of 368; 2 vols, folio (38 x 28 cm); [iv], 160, [4]pp.; [viii], 165-308, [12] pp, illustrated with 96 etchings, hors-texte, and 11 etched vignettes, en-texte on Japon nacré; signed in ink by artist on justification page; all loose as issued in publisher's printed cream coloured wrappers, with cream coloured chemises, chemises a little worn and stained; overall a very good copy.

Provenance
Delivery

We offer secure and express delivery on all local and international orders of rare books, maps and prints placed through this website.

About us

Shapero Rare Books is an internationally renowned dealer in antiquarian & rare books and works on paper.

Our Bookshop and Gallery can be found in the heart of Mayfair at 106 New Bond Street, where most of our stock is available to view and on public display.

We exhibit at major international art fairs, including TEFAF (Maastricht and New York), Frieze Masters, Art Miami and Masterpiece London, as well as antiquarian & rare book fairs including New York, Paris, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Hong Kong.

Read more

Ask us a question

Les âmes mortes.

CHAGALL, Marc; GOGOL, Nicolai.

Stock code: 112541

£30,000.00

THE BOND STREET EXPERIENCE

An exceptional experience in the heart of London’s Mayfair for not only seasoned collectors but those considering purchasing their first rare book or print.

Guaranteed Authenticity
GUARANTEED AUTHENTICITY
International Delivery
INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY
Meet Our Booksellers
MEET OUR BOOKSELLERS
Free Gift Wrapping
FREE GIFT WRAPPING

BOOK COLLECTING IDEAS

Your cart is empty

Continue shopping

Basket