Sankt-Peterburg, E.N. Akhmatova, 1878.
8vo, 200 pp.

In contemporary quarter leather, paper-covered boards. Gilt-lettered on spine with gilt-tooled initials N.K. Bound with: Aimard, Gustave [La Mas-Horca]. Mas-Gorka. Saint-Peterburg, E.N. Akhmatova, 1878. 252 pp.; Blackmore, R.D. [Erema; or, My Father’s Sin]. Prestuplenie Moego Otsa. Saint-Peterburg, E.N. Akhmatova, 1878. 124 pp.
In good condition, worn, spine extremities rubbed, some spotting and foxing to pages, owner stamp to first free endpaper 'Biblioteka N.G. Krapivki'.

Very rare first Russian translation.

The story behind this translation is as mysterious as the novel itself. It was anonymously translated and published by the esteemed female publisher Elizaveta Akhmatova in the same year as the original text appeared. Despite Collins' immense popularity in Russia and later in the Soviet Union, this translation remained the only Russian version of his novel until 1992. Unexpectedly, this anonymous translation was republished in 1992 as part of a five-volume collection of Collins's works, appearing in the third volume.
Moreover, it is highly probable that this Russian translation marks the first translation of the text in any language.

We couldn't trace any copy in OCLC or in Russian main libraries.