Slovo o polku Igoreve (The Tale of Igor's Campaign)

Moscow, Russia: Academia, 1934. Elephant folio. 49, [3]pp. Uncut. Original cloth overlaid with Palekh style illustration. The cover is designed like a ceiling fresco seen from below. Illustrated endpapers.This volume contains the old Russian text of "Slovo o Polku Igoreve (Host of Igor’s Lay), one of the greatest literary masterpieces not only of Russia, but the world." It explains that the illustrator, Ivan Golikov, works "in the old artistic manner of the Palekh School*. Chromolithographed title page. Decorative head-, tailpieces and initials. Ribbon marker. Magnificent edition of this anonymous epic poem originally written in the Old East Slavic language. The title is occasionally translated as The Song of Igor's Campaign, The Lay of Igor's Campaign, and The Lay of the Host of Igor. The poem gives an account of a failed raid of Igor Svyatoslavich (1202) against the Polovtsians of the Don River region. While some have disputed the authenticity of the poem, the current scholarly consensus is that the poem is authentic and dates to the medieval period (late 12th century). The Tale of Igor's Campaign was adapted by Alexander Borodin and became one of the great classics of Russian opera. This edition is lavishly illustrated with 10 mounted Palekh illustrations by Golikov, each within a chromolithographed border. Some rubbing on covers with slight abrasion on front cover, and heavy abrasion on back cover. Text in old Russian. Binding in overall good, interior in near fine to fine condition. *The Palekh school works are painted in an ornate style that usually utilized bright primary colors (especially red) against a shiny black background to decorate lacquer boxes with fairy tale motifs. A clean beautiful rare volume.. 1st Edition. Glossy Hard Cover/Boards. Near Fine/No Jacket - Issued. Illus. by Golikov, Ivan. Folio - over 12" - 15" tall.