Khvostenko, Alexei [A Report on Matters in Petersburg]. Soobshchenie o Delakh v Peterburge. 

[Leningrad?], 1963. 
8vo, 22 pp., ill. 

In hand-painted wrappers and modern slipcase. The entire text is handwritten and accompanied by ink drawings. One full-page illustration is done in an abstract style (watercolor).
In good condition, lightly rubbed and soiled, small tears to edges, minor losses to spine. 

An extremely rare, one-of-a-kind author’s self-published edition.

Aleksei Khvostenko (known as Khvost; 1940–2004) is considered one of the most vivid figures of Soviet unofficial culture — an avant-garde poet, singer-songwriter, artist, and sculptor. Often referred to as the 'grandfather of Russian rock', Khvostenko co-wrote (with Anri Volokhonsky) the song 'The Golden City', which gained iconic status in Russia after being performed by Boris Grebenshchikov in the 1987 cult film 'Assa'.
In addition to his literary work, Khvostenko was an accomplished painter and sculptor, known for his innovative collages, although his art was never officially exhibited in the USSR. In 1977, under pressure from Soviet authorities, he was forced to emigrate and eventually settled in Paris, where he began referring to himself as an ‘artist complete’. In France, Khvostenko became a central figure in the Russian émigré literary community. Together with writer Vladimir Maramzin, he published the influential underground journal 'Ekho', and served as vice-president of the Association of Russian Artists and Writers in Paris. He organized art exhibitions, released books and music albums, and staged theatrical productions. While living in France, Khvostenko also recorded several song albums, including collaborative works with the Russian rock band 'Auktsyon' in the 1990s.
It is believed that Khvostenko's first book, 'Podozritel' ('The Suspector'), was originally published in samizdat in 1965. However, our copy of 'A Report on Matters in Petersburg' is dated 1963. Moreover, while 'The Suspector' circulated in samizdat in a simple design, this copy is a true artist’s book.
The text of this hand-crafted book was compared with the version published in the 2005 anthology 'Verpa' and contains several minor differences. Additionally, this book includes the poem 'Shabashnaya Pesn’ Ved’my' ('Witch’s Sabbath Song'), which is typically published separately, outside the cycle.
Provenance: From the collection of the medievalist scholar, Professor of French Universities Nanterre-La Défense and Rennes II, Ksenia Muratova (1940-2019). Muratova lived in Paris from the early 1970s and communicated closely with Khvostenko.