[Children] A Small Collection of Children's Books, Published by Ivan Sytin by Various - 1917 - 1918

Moskva (Moscow): Tipografiia T-va I. D. Sytina, 1917 - 1918. Three books, presumed first editions; 8" x 6"; pp. 20, 19, and 20, respectively; chromolithographed wraps; all three with small rubbed spots to spine and corners; staples replaced; one with small loss of paper to lower margin of title leaf; illustrated with full chromolithographed plates; overall in very good condition.

Ivan Sytin (1851 - 1934) was a prominent publisher, owner of the biggest publishing empire in pre-Revolutionary Russia. Growing up poor and semi-literate, with only two years of formal education, at the age of 15 he apprenticed for a Moscow publisher, who would eventually help him open his own business in 1876. He was catapulted from obscurity to fame in 1882, where he received a medal for his exhibits at the All-Russian Industrial and Artistic Exhibition and even more so in 1884, when Tolstoy chose him to work on his books. He would also publish a newspaper and would found Sytin's Art School, many of which's students would go on to work for him after graduation. He would become famous for his children's books, illustrated with Russian folk motifs in the style of Ivan Bilibin. The three current publications were issued right around and shortly after the Revolution, when his printing house was nationalized and, although the Bolsheviks allowed him to continue publishing, his books were strictly censored and made to conform to the Government's requirements.

- Ivashko. Russkaia narodnaia skazka (Ivashko. A Russian Folk Tale)

- Deviat bratev (Nine Brothers)

- Zolotoi. Skazka dlia detei sredniago vozrasta (Golden. A Fairy Tale for Middle-school Children)