TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD / UBIT' PERESMESHNIKA

Moscow: Molodaya Gvardia, 1964. First Russian Book Edition. 351,[1] pp., with several in-text illustrations. Cloth-backed pictorial paper over boards. Early Russian ink inscription and inkstamp on rear pastedown. A few small scribbles in blue ink on covers and ink stains on cloth. Edges of boards lightly worn, front hinge cracked. Contents lightly toned, but surprisingly fresh for the quality of the paper. A good copy.

The pirated first Russian book edition, after a 1963 appearance in the periodical INOSTRANAYA LITERATURA ("Foreign Literature") and a 1964 special separate issue of ROMAN-GAZETA ("Novel as Newspaper"). Like other books by foreign authors published in the USSR at the time, this edition is a piracy, with no royalties paid to the author. Nevertheless, it was a major undertaking, engaging major Russian literary talents of the day, with the still-authoritative translation by Nora Gal (1912-1991) and Raisa Oblonskaya (1924-2010), an introduction by celebrated literary critic Raisa Orlova (1918-1989), and design and illustrations by the brilliant graphic artist Nikolay Grishin (1921-1985).