A rare and important work on the history and folklore of Southern Russia, nowadays modern Ukraine, compiled by one of the most outstanding Ukrainian ethnographers, historians and writers of the nineteenth century. It contains historical references, ballads, songs and other folklore that were traditionally passed from mouth to mouth among the common people.

Kulish (1819-97) is well-known as the creator of the first Ukrainian phonetic alphabet, which he introduced with the aim of simplifying the spelling and extending literacy. The "Zapiski" was the first publication where Kulish utilised his creation. It was later employed in the 1860 edition of Shevchenko's "Kobzar" and the periodical "Osnova" before being banned by the Emsky decree of 1876 with which tsar Aleksander II significantly restricted the use of the Ukrainian language.

In this work Kulish also included the poem "Naymychka" [Hired Labourer] written by his long-time friend Taras Shevchenko (1814-61), which was the first appearance in print of his nowadays best known poetical work. Kulish published "Naymychka" using a manuscript copied from Shevchenko's original by his friend Andriy Lizogub. Shevchenko's poem is not signed however since Shevchenko was sent into exile in 1847 for his association with revolutionary activists and his criticism of Nikolay I; his name would have prevented the publication of Kulish's work.

Two volumes bound in one, 8vo (22.5 x 17 cm). XXVI, 322, [2] pp.; XIII, 354, [2] pp.; spotting and foxing. Original wrappers bound in contemporary calf over brown cloth boards, gilt lettering to spine; rubbed.