The Golden Cockerel by Pushkin, Alexander; Dulac, Edmund (Illustrator) - 1950

New York: The Limited Editions Club [Printed at the Fanfare Press], 1950. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine/fine. Dulac, Edmund. No. 1382 of 1500, quarto size, 44 pp., signed by Edmund Dulac. After Nicholas I, the newly crowned Tsar of Russia, had suppressed the revolutionary rising of December 1825, Alexander Pushkin, who had shown sympathy with the movement but had influential friends at Court, was granted an audience. He was forgiven. When he has gone, Nicholas said to his Secretary of State, Count Bludov "I have been conversing with the wittiest man in Russia." With Pushkin's death Russia lost not only her "wittiest man" but also one of her best poets and a writer who was among the first to lay the foundations of modern Russian literature and to gather together some of the best stories and popular songs from the immense treasure of Russian folklore (from Foreward). Edmund Dulac (1882-1953), who truly needs no introduction, was the only illustrator of his day on a par with Arthur Rackham and was known for his sensational colors, great design impact, orientalism and humor. ___DESCRIPTION: Bound in Russian-red cloth with brass cockerel on cover and gilt text on spine; teal, gold, and black text and illustrations on title page, illustrated throughout with watercolours by Dulac; set in monotype Poliphilus, Abbey Mills special paper; quarto in size (approximately 12" tall); pagination: (1) - (42), blank (43), colophon (44); signed by illustrator, Limited Edition no. 1382 of 1500. With original glassine wrapper. Russian-red chemise with gold stamped paper of cockerel illustrations, gilt text on spine; Russian-red paper slipcase with no text or decoration. ___CONDITION: Book in near fine condition; usual tarnishing on brass cockerel, all else fine. Wrapper fine with minute wear on corners. Chemise is near fine with sunning to the spine, front and back joints. Slipcase is near fine with sunning to spine and light wear to the opening. ___CITATION: LEC no. 205. ___POSTAGE: International customers, please note that additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs; please inquire for details. ___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help.