The Queen of Spades.

Limited edition of one of Pushkin's most celebrated prose works. The Queen of Spades is an enduring classic of Golden Age Russian literature and provided the basis for Tchaikovsky's opera of the same title. This edition is wonderfully illustrated by Alexandre Alexieff (1901-1982), a Russian émigré who is most well known for his talents as an animator, having invented the pinscreen method with his collaborator (and later wife) Claire Parker. He emigrated to France after the revolution in 1917 with a recommendation to Sergei Sudeikin in hand, he joined the circle of notable Russian artists living and working in the city. After studying painting, he designed costumes and sets for the Ballets Russes and quickly gained notoriety through his book illustrations.

Limited edition, number 127 of 275 copies; 4to (255 x 190 mm, 10 x 7 1/2 in); frontispiece, title vignette, 9 illustrations in text in two or three colours plus tailpieces by Alexeieff, Preface by Prince D. Sviatopolk-Mirsky; later quarter vellum over black cloth boards, after the original, gilt title to spine and front cover, top edge gilt, others uncut some minor spotting, as usual, otherwise very good.