Additional title page in French.
Cover design by M. Dal'kevich.
Portrait by V. Mate.

Sankt-Peterburg, P. Hansen, 1894.
8vo, VIII, 144 pp.

In contemporary blue pictorial cloth. Original pictorial front cover preserved.
In good condition, extremities lightly rubbed, somewhat dust-soiled, cover partly detached, owner stamp to cover and title page 'Mikhail Ivanovich Chuvanov', oval owner stamp 'Iz knigokhranilishcha «Dom knigi» Mih. Ioann. Chuvanova d. Usady Mosk. gub.' and inscription to title verso 'Synu moemu / i / drugu po knizhnomu delu / Leontiiu / MikhChuvanov / 01.07.35' [To my son and friend in the book trade Leontii. Mikh.Chuvanov. 01.07.35].

Rare multilingual edition from the prominent Russian private collection.

This multilingual edition was published in Russia 19 years after another edition, which included 'The Story of a Mother' in 15 languages. This edition also features translations into Ukrainian, Slovak, Serbian, Italian, Armenian, Tatar, and Hebrew.
The book was issued by the translator Peter Emanuel Hansen (1846-1930), a Danish-born individual who, along with his Russian wife Anna (1869-1942), translated works by Andersen and other Scandinavian authors. In 1917, Peter returned to Denmark, while Anna remained in Russia and died during the siege of Leningrad.
The cover design was crafted by the illustrator and art critic Mechislav (Franz) Dal'kevich (1861-1941), featuring Andersen's portrait engraved by the Russian etcher and wood engraver of German descent Vasily Mate (1856-1917), who is considered one of the major engravers in Russia during the late 19th century.
This copy is from the collection of the prominent collector, Old Believers activist, and type designer Mikhail Chuvanov (1890-1988).