Azbuka v Kartinakh [Alphabet in Pictures].

exceptionally fresh copy

One of the most outstanding examples of Russian book illustration.

First edition of Benois' masterpiece Azbuka v Kartinakh, which has always been in high demand among bibliophiles as its circulation was extremely limited. The 35 (including title) chromolithographic illustrations of dolls, toys, animals and children each correspond to an alphabetic character. This is an exceptionally fresh and bright example as it had a contemporary dust jacket (the flap of which remains and is loosely inserted).

The letter 'A' stands for 'Arap' (Moor in Russian) who takes the reader on a journey through scenes of aristocratic balls, theatre productions and fairytales and at the end the same character appears stating (whilst correcting himself), 'I have learnt to read and write in Russian'. The same character appears in the ballet Petrouchka.

Each page is charming and displays all of Benois' interests: the theatre, folk toys, fantasies, interiors, fairy tales and architecture. There is evidently a lot of care and attention in each illustration, perhaps because he had imagined this idealised world as a way to teach his own son to read.

First edition; 4to (33 x 25 cm); chromolithographic title and 34 full-page chromolithographic illustrations, very minor marginal spotting to a few plates, endpapers toned, flap of original dust jacket loosely inserted; original publisher's pictorial paper covered boards, slightly chipped at the top edge and corners, else a fine copy.