PIATAKOV, G[eorgy] (editor-in-chief)

USSR in Construction (USSR im BAU). 1930, nos.1-6 (January-June)

Moscow: State Publishing House of the RSFSR, 1930. Five folio issues (42cm); printed card wrappers, stapled; 48; 32; 32; 48; 48pp; illus; text is in English and German. Issue No.1 stated "Second Edition", remaining issues in the First Edition. All issues signed in pencil by previous owner at lower right corner of front wrapper (Kurt V. Müeller), with light overall wear and dustiness to wrappers, oxidation to staples, and slight mustiness; faint, shallow staining to gutters of 2 issues and right margins of 1 issue; nos.4 and 5-6 (double issue) each with a small chip to rear wrappers; overall and unrestored, Very Good+ run.

The first six issues of this landmark Soviet art magazine, issued from 1930 to 1941 to celebrate the achievements of the first two Five Year Plans and (through various foreign-language editions) to propagandize the stark contrast between the vibrant Soviet economy during this period and the stagnation of Western economies under capitalism. "All the visual strategies of the propaganda photobooks, designed by Lissitsky, Rodchenko and others...were developed in USSR in Construction, one of the most beautifully produced magazines of the twentieth century" (Parr-Badger, The Photobook, I:148).

The present issues are dedicated to the subjects of oil production, electric energy and centrifuges, textile workers, ship building, railroads, construction, and the production of field machinery. Extensively illustrated throughout with half-tone photographs of subjects for each themed issue. An attractive group; issues from the first year of the magazine are notably uncommon.

Price: $2,500.00

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