Bidspirit auction | A RUSSIAN FAIRY TALE BOOK

A RUSSIAN FAIRY TALE BOOK WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY IVAN BILIBIN, SAINT PETERSBURG, 1903 - Illustrated Russian fairy tale book titled ”Иван Царевич, Жар-Птица и о Сером Волке” (”Ivan Tsarevich, the Firebird, and the Grey Wolf”), published in Saint Petersburg in 1903, featuring color and monochrome illustrations by Ivan Bilibin, one of the most important Russian graphic artists of the early twentieth century and a leading figure of the Neo-Russian style. The printed paper covers are richly ornamented with medievalizing borders, foliate scrollwork, heraldic birds, and narrative panels, inspired by Old Russian manuscript illumination, lubok prints, and folk decorative traditions. The front cover incorporates multiple framed scenes from the tale, while the rear cover displays a stylized ornamental bird motif and the printed price ”Цена 75 коп.” The interior includes a decorative title page, ornamental typography, vignette designs, and full-page narrative plates, including a celebrated scene depicting Ivan Tsarevich reaching for the glowing feather of the Firebird beneath the night sky. The illustrations are rendered in saturated earth tones with strong black contour lines characteristic of Bilibin’s mature graphic language. Several illustrations are signed in the block ”Н. Билибинъ” and dated 1899, indicating the early execution of the drawings prior to publication. The text pages are set within printed ornamental frames, and the book retains the original censorship approval page reading ”Дозволено цензурою. С.-Петербургъ, 3 Мая 1901 г.” The publication forms part of Bilibin’s highly influential fairy tale series, now regarded as foundational to modern Russian book design and illustration. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions offers in-house shipping. In case we can not accommodate a shipping request, a list of additional shippers will be provided. Dimensions: 12 3/4 x 10 1/8 in., (32.5 x 25.7 cm.) Condition: Light toning, edge wear, small spine losses and tears, particularly at the corners. Interior pages with minor foxing and light staining consistent with age. The illustrations remain vibrant and well-preserved. The binding is lightly worn but intact.