Single issue of the Russian literary and political magazine, 96 pp., with typographic cover design by Nikolai Ilyin. Quarto (9 3/4 x 6 3/4 inches). Original orange and blue printed wrappers. Some wear and splitting along spine, handling wear to covers, library stamp to inside, general toning throughout, overall very good. Moscow: 1929.

Molodaja Gvardija is a monthly Russian magazine founded in Moscow in May 1922 as an organ of the Central Committee of the Komsomol, the Leninist Young Communist League. It focused on literature and politics and published many works by young writers. Publication ceased between 1942 and 1947 before picking back up again. Over the years of its publication, it became increasingly conservative and nationalist, at times even xenophobic.

The cover of this particular issue was designed by Nikolai Ilyin (1894-1954). Initially trained as an architect, Ilyin began designing books while still a student. He was influenced by Jan Tschichold's work and became well-known for his avant-garde designs. He even won a special diploma at the Vsesoiuznaia Poligraficheskaia Vystavka exhibition in Moscow in 1927. Between 1922 and 1930, Ilyin designed books for the Nizhpoligraf publishing house, and in 1930 was appointed Vice Director of the Poligraficheskii Institut in Moscow, before becoming Senior Art Director of Goslitizdat in 1941. Estimates put Ilyin's designs in the the thousands over the course of his career.

Book ID: 53450

Price: $350.00