Dvanáct: epos o revoluci [The Twelve: an epos about the revolution]

Prague: Naše vojsko, 1949. Octavo (25 × 18 cm). Original pictorial wrappers with an illustration by Iurii Annenkov; 66, [2] pp. Fourteen full-page and ten smaller illustrations in the text by Annenkov. Very good; inner front wrapper toned from laid-in newspaper clipping. Uncommon Czech edition of the Russian Symbolist poet Aleksandr Blok's lyrical epos about the 1917 October Revolution, reproducing the striking illustrations and vignettes by Yuri Annenkov (1889-1974). Translated by the Czech poet and scholar of Russian literature, Bohumil Mathesius (1888-1952), who translated works by numerous Russian writers. Blok's text was first translated by Jaroslav Seifert in 1922 and Mathesius' translation first appeared in 1924. Curiously, given the work's many ambiguities, it is here reprinted by the "Naše vojsko" publishing house, which was founded in 1945 and existed through the Communist era to publish military-related works and literature on the Czechoslovak armed forces. Wrappers and typography by Otakar Karlas. With a preface by Naděžda Slabihoudová. One of 2000 copies. KVK, OCLC show copies at the Czech National Library, Basel University, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, and British Library only. (Inventory #: P003442)