Lot 86: Mikhail Vasilevich Lomonosov (1711-1765) Kratkoye rukovodstvo k krasnorechiyu. [1765]

LOMONOSOV, Mikhail Vasilevich (1711-1765) . Kratkoye rukovodstvo k krasnorechiyu [A quick guide to eloquence]. St Petersburg: Imperatorskaya Akademia Nauk, 1748 [recte 1765].

First edition, the corrected issue which includes the author’s alterations, of Lomonosov’s enormously influential Rhetoric. Both issues are extremely rare. This is the hugely influential first scientific work of rhetoric in the Russian language, preceded only either by works of religious content or translations from Latin or Greek. Lomonosov’s pioneering manual influenced the theory of rhetoric throughout the 18th and the 19th century. The printing history of this work is complex. Four issues (or indeed editions) appeared with the year 1748 in the printer’s statement. Lomonosov gave work in batches to the printers; the typography was damaged by fire in 1748 before the first ‘issue’ had been finished’; paper shortages affected the production well after the fire – and throughout the publishing of the manual Lomonosov had the means to refine and modify his text. One of the issue points which allow for an issue statement is to be found in p.2, last line of §4 which reads ‘these requirements’ (for an in-depth study of the issues, see A. A. Kostin, K. N. Lemeshev, Mikhail Lomonosov’s “Short Manual in Rhetoric”: The History of the First Edition from 1748, ‘Slovene’, Vol 6, No 2, 2017) . ABPC/RBH show no record of any edition of this work. CK3744; Kilgour 654.

Octavo (200 x 118mm) . (Occasional light spotting and staining, some ink staining on title) . Russian contemporary tree calf, paneled spine tooled in blind, morocco lettering-piece (head of spine chipped, corners worn, surface lightly rubbed) . Provenance: unnamed inscription dated 28 April 1776 – small identified rectangular stamp and ink numbering to rear free endleaf.

Online Auction - Bidding begins: 14 May, 8am EST - Bidding ends: 4 Jun, 8am