Kapkin, Peter [In the Nostril of Pyramidon: A Collection of Stories & Plays]. V Nozdre Piramidona: Sbornik rasskazov & p'es. 

Moskva, IMA-Press, 1990.
4to, 112 pp., ill.

In original wrappers and two dust jackets. Front cover of one dust jacket with handwritten quotes (a sort of blurbs), most likely by the author.
In good condition, light wear to dj, small tears to edges.

One of 10 000 copies published.

Peter Kapkin (b. 1958) is a representative of Moscow's 'new literature’, following in the footsteps of Russian avant-gardists like Daniil Kharms and Alexander Vvedensky. He is not only a writer but also a 'naive artist'. A man of freedom, Kapkin was never a member of any Soviet organizations, not even during his university years. Naturally, he wasn't part of any writers' organizations either. He pursued several incomplete higher education degrees in various fields and worked in diverse roles, including as a teacher of Russian language and literature, in a geodetic expedition, as a cableman at Mosenergo, and as a janitor and stoker.
Kapkin's work is a vivid example of literature that couldn't be published within the officially censored Soviet publishing system. The closest he came to a literary environment was at the editorial office of the magazine 'Sel'skaia Molodezh' ('Rural Youth'), which, despite its specific name, published many relevant texts, including translations of contemporary foreign literature. The frivolity of his texts, despite their serious undertones influenced by Kharms, left no chance for publication in the Soviet Union. His identity, more aligned with performance culture than the Writers' Union, further barred his path to Soviet state publishing houses.
This is the only book by the writer, who was known until then only for his performances in Moscow literary circles. Kapkin now lives a secluded life in a small town near Moscow.
The publisher of the book, IMA-Press, originated from the News Press Agency Publishing House (an extremely officious organization) and specialized in the livre d'artiste in the early 90s. In the press of the time, IMA-Press was dubbed 'the enfant terrible among publishing houses' for releasing very unusual books, often barely resembling traditional books. The main message of everything done at IMA-Press was to have fun.

It should be noted that the dust jacket of this copy, unlike other copies on the market, features handwritten quotes (similar to blurbs) in Russian, such as: 'When you are pleased by Mit'ki', 'A rare edition will provide for your old age at the book auction', 'If you like Kharms', 'Look at this book, maybe it's worth buying', 'IMA Press – literature of absurdity – our specialty'.