Snegirev, G. [A Lumpfish]. Pinagor.
Illustrations by M. Miturich.
Moskva, Sovetskaya Rossiya, 1960.
8vo, [16] pp. incl. wr., ill.
In original illustrated wrappers.
Near very good condition, light wear to spine and wrapper edges, edges sun-tanned, small owner mark to front cover.
Signed and inscribed by the illustrator: 'Innochke Shmelevoy ot M. Mituricha / 13 V 61'. [To Inna Shmeleva from M. Miturich 13 V 61]. May Miturich's autographs are quite rare. He reserved the act of signing his books for close friends only. First edition. The only edition with these illustrations.
This book revolves around the story of Marina, a young girl, and her father, a forester, who lived on the shores of the White Sea.
The illustrations in this book were created by May Miturich (Miturich-Khlebnikov, 1925–2008), an artist who was the nephew of futurist poet Velimir Khlebnikov and the son of avant-garde artist Vera Khlebnikova. Miturich not only studied at the Moscow Polygraphic Institute but also later became a professor there. In 2005, Miturich was honored with the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun.
The author of the book, Gennadii Snegirev, shared a close friendship with Miturich and together they embarked on travels to the Commander Islands, Tuva, and Central Asia.
The book was signed for Inna Shmeleva (1929-2020), an artist who was also a dear friend of Miturich. Shmeleva studied under Ely Bielutin, the founder of The New Reality artistic academy. In 1962, Shmeleva participated in the 30th-anniversary exhibition of the Moscow Union of Artists at the Central Exhibition Hall (Manège), an event that faced severe criticism from Nikita Khrushchev. This event marked the end of the period known as the Khrushchev Thaw.
OCLC locates only one copy of this edition: in the Berlin State Library.