The two grand masters of modern Russian children's literature, Chukovsky and Samuil Marshak joined forces to render into Russian Kipling's story 'How the Whale Got His Throat' from Just So Stories (1902). An early follower of Vladimir Lebedev and a student of Malevich, Krimmer (1900-1974) was one of the most inventive Russian children's book illustrators of the early twentieth century. Krimmer's circle included Ermolaeva, Kharms and Mayakovsky and fearing he would meet the same fate as his friends Krimmer destroyed the majority of his work in the 1920s and 30s. Scarce.

First edition, 12 pp., 4to (27.3 x 21.3 cm); translated from the English by Chukovsky and rendered into poetry by Marshak, full-page illustrations in black and white; original printed orange wrappers designed by Krimmer, a very good copy.

Cotsen 5701.