The Black Book and Schwambrania
Young Adult Fantasy Bedtime Story Social Commentary Soviet Children’s Literature Satirical Fiction Coming-of-Age Adventure Illustrated Collectible Literary Nonsense
Lev Kassil’s 1978 first-edition hardcover “The Black Book and Schwambrania” is one of the most sought-after Soviet-era titles in English, and this copy—printed by Progress Publishers Moscow at the height of the Cold War—offers collectors the dual thrill of a true first and a fully-illustrated translation that rarely surfaces on the secondary market. A whimsical, lightly satirical adventure that follows two brothers who invent an imaginary country called Schwambrania, the novel is beloved for its richly detailed world-building, sly social commentary, and the kind of timeless, bedtime-story magic that still captivates both young adults and grown-up bibliophiles. Because the English-language print-run was tiny and most copies were read to pieces, intact examples in the original laminated boards have become genuinely scarce.
This vintage 1978 copy shows the honest edge-wear and spine-rub you’d expect from four decades on a shelf, yet the binding remains tight, the pages are unmarked (save for three small, marginal foxing spots), and all of the period illustrations—wood-cut style plates that recall early Russian constructivist art—are present and vivid. No book-plates, inscriptions, or dog-eared corners mar the reading experience, so the text block feels crisp in hand. For collectors of Soviet children’s literature, comparative-sales data shows that comparable first English editions in similar condition have been appreciating steadily, making this an approachable entry point that still carries upside potential.
Whether you’re building a Cold-War era library, hunting for a distinctive gift for a YA reader who has outgrown Narnia, or simply want to own the book that Russian critics call “the missing link between Gulliver and Harry Potter,” this copy delivers narrative charm and shelf presence in equal measure. Add the cultural cachet of a Moscow imprint that was never widely distributed in the West, and “The Black Book and Schwambrania” becomes a conversation piece that rewards both reading and display.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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