Zhenskiy Zhurnal [Women's magazine].

A complete run of one year of one of the major periodicals of the 1920s with striking cover designs.

Runs of Zhenskiy zhurnal are notably scarce with only a handful of issues in institutions worldwide. The Constructivist covers were mainly designed with photomontages by Semen Semenov-Menes (1895-1982), one of the leading Soviet masters of movie poster design. Together with Stenberg brothers, he created the well-known style of advertising posters for Mezhrabpom films. The journal was issued monthly between 1926 and 1930 and included short stories, poetry, international current affairs (including scathing attacks on class enemies) as well as advice on how to run a home, family health, needlework and recipes. Each issue also includes a section on fashion with vivid illustrations reflecting the latest 1920s style, some of which is 'Slavicised' with floral embroidery.

12 issues, complete run of 1929, folio (34.5 cm x 25.5 cm); profusely illustrated throughout in black and white with photos and illustrations, as well as fashion illustrations in colour, no.2 slightly stained, no.4 minor spotting throughout and lacking the supplementary folding pattern as is often the case, no.6 pp.37-40 loose, no.9 faint remnant of tape repair to spine; original illustrated or photomontage wrappers, a very good set.