Beschreibung:

CHEKHOV, Anton Pavlovich (1860-1904). Pestrye razskazy . [Varicoloured Tales, sometimes Motley Tales.] St Petersburg: R. Golike, 1886. The rare first edition of Chekhov's second book, the first published under his own name. This collection of seventy-seven short stories was wildly popular and brought Chekhov national fame. RBH and ABPC record only one copy having been offered at auction (Christie's East, 17 April 2001, lot 17). Before Chekhov 'the short story in Russian literature had been only an incidental art form […] Chekhov quickly realized the artistic virtue of this form in which he ultimately became one of the world’s great masters' (Simmons). Kilgour 226; Simmons, Chekhov (Boston: 1962), pp.73, 107; Smirnov-Sokol'skii, Moia biblioteka , 1226. Octavo (210 x 138mm). (Marginal dampstain in the title and first few leaves; faint spotting and penciled marginalia throughout.) Contemporary quarter calf with brown cloth sides (possibly a remboitage; front hinge split; extremities rubbed).