Beschreibung:

BALMONT, Konstantin Dimitrievich (1867-1942). Ptitsy v vozdukhe. [Birds in the air]. St Petersburg: Shipovnik, 1908. [Offered with:] Pod severnym nebom . [Under the northern sky]. St Petersburg: Stasyulevich, 1894. Two first editions, the second a presentation copy. I: First edition of one of Balmont's early symbolistic collections of poetry, inspired by his journey to Mexico. It contains a lengthy section entitled ‘Maya’. It was ‘the first extensive body of text to appear in Russian dealing with Mexican and Mayan themes. The poems were extravagantly musical and introduced exotic Mexican names into the Russian language’ (W.H. Richardson, p.84). Lesman 181; Rozanov 2105. II: First edition, presentation copy, of Balmont’s first collection of poems, the starting point of his literary career. In December 1893 Balmont wrote to Nikolai Minsky ‘I have just written a series of my own poems and I will begin the publishing process in January. I anticipate my liberal friends will be outraged, as there is not much liberalism in this, while there are many “corrupting influences”’. The collection in fact appeared, in 1000 copies, to critical acclaim. Lesman 168; Rozanov 2084. I: Octavo (240 x 190mm). With 3ff advertisements at end. Uncut in the original decorative printed wrappers (spine head and fore-edges skilfully repaired). II: Octavo (175 x 125mm). (Some spotting and occasional dusting). Original wrappers (spine, lower corner and upper edges repaired). Provenance: Konstantin Dimitrievich Balmont (inscription on upper wrapper to:) – ‘Dear (and capricious) L.L. Frolova’ (dated 1895).