In the framework of the Russian week on November 28, the auction Christie's will auction "Russian first editions and manuscripts. Best of collection by R. Eden Martin". The catalog says well-known scholar and antiquary Anatoly Borovkov

auction Catalog Russian Literary First Editions & Manuscripts: Highlights from the R. Eden Martin Collection consists of 228 lots including books from Pushkin to Pasternak, and also the autographs of Silver age poets. Perhaps, over the past five years had such a full, pure trading of Russian books abroad. Books occasionally met at international auctions books held by Sotheby's and Christie's twice a year, where their share does not exceed 2-5 % of the total number of lots. This auction consists entirely of Russians, most of them valuable books.

I first of all would pay attention?

First — a good selection of the first lifetime editions of Pushkin, in which I highlighted "Poems" in 1826 (lot 15, estimate $50 000-59 000). This is the first edition of Pushkin's poems, which were scattered in various miscellanies, and collected together for the first time, with large additions never printed before. During the life of the poet, the publication has become a rarity. I wrote about this famous collector Smirnov-Сокольский in his study of lifetime editions of Pushkin, speaking of the great rarity of this edition, more of which he considered only a first edition of "Eugene Onegin" in the chapters. In the second place I would put the first book of Pushkin "Ruslan and Lyudmila" in 1820 (lot 8, estimate $50 000-59 000). The book is certainly valuable and rare, read by Pushkin's contemporaries. But in this instance there is a drawback: there is a famous engraving by M. Ivanov depicting the heroes of this piece. The most famous Pushkin's work to the foreign audience is a tragedy "Boris Godunov". It was delivered the eponymous Opera by M. P. Musorgsky. Therefore, the first and only lifetime edition "Boris Godunov" 1831 evaluated very highly (lot 21, estimate $52 000-65 000). Noteworthy and a book of prose, Pushkin, the first edition of Belkin, evaluated, in my opinion, a tall: $26 000-39 000 (lot 20). But the instance is good because the saved publishing cover that is very rare in the lifetime of Pushkin books, which survived until our days.

later in the catalog there is a series of lifetime editions N. Gogol, among which stands out by price the first edition of "Evenings on a farm near Dikanka" 1831, displayed with an estimate of $65 000-91 000 (lot 34). Surprised by the high rating the first lifetime editions of I. A. Goncharov. "a Common story" (lot 39) are estimated at $10 000-13 000 and "Oblomov" (lot 40) valued at $9 000-11 000. With the high prices presents the first edition of Fyodor Dostoevsky, whose 200-летний anniversary is not far off. This and the first magazine publication of "Crime and punishment" with an estimate of $10 000-13 000 (lot 62), and it was a work book valued at $19 000-26 000 (lot 63). the First edition when-то banned in the Soviet Union "Demons" 1873 (lot 64) valued at $15 000-23 000, while in Moscow this edition you can buy for half that price. First edition "the Idiot" 1874 (lot 65) $20 000-26000. Highly appreciatedkit "the Diary of a writer", with its anti-Semitic slant (lot 67, $10 000-13 000), which can be assembled in Moscow is much cheaper. The most famous in the West edition which is taught in some countries at school, the last book of Dostoevsky "the Brothers Karamazov" in beautiful bindings valued at just — $28 000-39 000 (lot 68). In Moscow, a good instance could until recently, be purchased for less than $15 000. Here I want to digress from the descriptions of the auction and to announce that on 20 November at the auction "Rare books and manuscripts", held by Christie's in Paris, a copy of the first edition of Dostoevsky's "the insulted and injured," with an inscription by the author sold for 250 euros 81 (lot 81)!!!

Back to our auction. L. N. Tolstoy presents the first edition of "War and peace" with a valuation of $15 000-23 000 (lot 76). The first edition of "Anna Karenina" valued at $19 000-26 000 (lot 77). In Russia, it still can be purchased in the neighborhood of $7 000, depending on the state of an instance. Very highly appreciated the work of Tolstoy "one Thousand eight hundred and fifth year", which was later amended and became the basis of "War and peace". His estimate of $19 000-26 000 (lot 75), although I this publication was caught twice for a ridiculous $1 500-2 000. I had to think ahead, like many of today's collectors. For sale in this auction is the autograph of Leo Tolstoy on the book "the reader" with a valuation of $15 000-25 000 (lot 88).

Another Russian classic, Chekhov on this auction presents books with a small estimate. For example, the first separate book of Chekhov's "tales of Melpomene" (lot 89) modestly estimated at $5 000-7 000. The first edition of the world famous play "Three sisters" (lot 97), unfortunately without the famous cover with a picture of these sisters, too bad priced at $5 000-7 000. Commands respect the West's attitude to Chekhov's plays that we see in the evaluation of the first publication of the play "the Seagull" in the journal "Russian thought", 1896 (lot 96): $3 000-4 500. Then I remember how recently at ridiculous prices at the Moscow auctions was a large collection of first publication of small works of Chekhov, but never found their buyers.

Now I want to talk about my favorite topic of Russian avant-garde, is represented at this auction. It is primarily futuristic edition, published before the October revolution of 1917. Unfortunately, this auction does not possess the masterpieces of this trend. Almost all publications are often found in the West and sometimes in the Russian auctions: books Russian avant-garde were exported from Russia for many years and sold illegally abroad, so they are today much more abroad than in Russia. Prices are constantly rising. For this auction I am personally interested in practically only one book I even included it in their list of desideratum Russian avant-garde. It "Zadok the judges", 1910 (lot 134), printed on wall-paper with a circulation of 300 copies.

a Disadvantage in the auction of the instance is that it is bound, and I'm not surethat cover survived publishing covers with a sticker. The advantage of this instance is the inscription Alexander Gorodetsky (nickname Gay), referred to the Hope Dobychina, reiterated in his "Office" held the exhibition of artists of the Russian avant-garde. In my opinion, a modest auction estimate of $4 000-5 000, and it is a monument of Russian avant-garde. Interesting collection of futurists "Gag" because it is printed on blue paper, but much more common are instances in red (lot 137, estimate $2000-2500). High price stilografiche book A. Kruchenykh "Ironed" (lot 167, $2 800-4000). If this-за autograph twisted, they are not rare, and the usual copy of this edition costs $1000.

Impress evaluate autographs of silver age poets Akhmatova, Tsvetaeva, Mandelstam, Pasternak. Note the autograph of Mandelstam in his first book "Stone" 1913 (lot 171) estimate of $78 000– 17 000! 17 years ago, I saw the same autograph at a book fair in Berlin with the then estimate of $12 000. Here is the right attachment for the books. No wonder their dear one collector calls the book "denezhnoemkaya" material. Really, the place is less paintings, but at a cost and sometimes are not inferior. Good Primus Mandelstam a real estimate $10,000 to 15,000 (lot 176). I think he even underestimated. Children's books Mandelstam and Mayakovsky read out to the holes and almost did not survive, especially Mandelstam was voted "enemy of the people", so keep his books was at least dangerous and get rid of them. By the way, rare and first book of the then unknown Vladimir Mayakovsky "I" in 1913 (lot 179). She does not come across in good shape, and its circulation was only 300 copies. Evaluation of normal: $10 000-15 000.

more Expensive, in my opinion, should be two fully lithographed collection of A. Kruchenykh "Vzorval" (lot 157, $3 700-4 500) and "Vozropschem" (lot 159, $600 2000-2). In these publications there are autolithographies by Malevich. And it is for "foreign" editions, and to his Suprematism made a total of 9 lithographs in the style of Cubo-futurism, which individually until sold at around $3,000 and exhibited in various museums around the world.

it is one thing to assess theoretically, and another thing a real bargain. New price of these rare books know in 2 days when will be bidding. Information with foreign trades affect prices on the domestic book market of Russia.

Anatoly Borovkov,
member of the International Confederation of antique and art-дилеров