BLOK, Alexander (1880-1921). Iamby. [Iambs.] St. Petersburg: Alkonost, 1919. 8° (190 x 120mm). Vignette after Yuri Annenkov. Original wrappers, upper side with illustration after N. Kupreiannov (text block detached, wear at the extremities, small stain on back cover). Provenance: Alexander Blok (gift inscription to:) -- Varvara Alexeeva-Meskhieva (actress; b. 1898).
FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY BLOK WITH A LINE OF VERSE from one of the poems in this collection, 'molchi, skryvaisia i tai i chuvstva i mechty svoi', to 'Lika Villi', and dated 'Moscow October 1920'. The actress Varvara Alexeeva-Meskhieva was a popular paramour among St. Petersburg poets. Blok, no doubt keen to keep his relationship with her discreet, does not sign his name and inscribed the book to a pseudonym alluding to Varvara's Georgian origins -- her birth-name was Meskhishvili. The line of verse, quoting Tiuchev, calls for feelings and dreams to be kept silent and hidden. Kilgour 128; MoMA 227.
BLOK, Alexander (1880-1921). Iamby. [Iambs.] St. Petersburg: Alkonost, 1919. 8° (190 x 120mm). Vignette after Yuri Annenkov. Original wrappers, upper side with illustration after N. Kupreiannov (text block detached, wear at the extremities, small stain on back cover). Provenance: Alexander Blok (gift inscription to:) -- Varvara Alexeeva-Meskhieva (actress; b. 1898).
FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY BLOK WITH A LINE OF VERSE from one of the poems in this collection, 'molchi, skryvaisia i tai i chuvstva i mechty svoi', to 'Lika Villi', and dated 'Moscow October 1920'. The actress Varvara Alexeeva-Meskhieva was a popular paramour among St. Petersburg poets. Blok, no doubt keen to keep his relationship with her discreet, does not sign his name and inscribed the book to a pseudonym alluding to Varvara's Georgian origins -- her birth-name was Meskhishvili. The line of verse, quoting Tiuchev, calls for feelings and dreams to be kept silent and hidden. Kilgour 128; MoMA 227.
![BLOK, Alexander (1880-1921). Iamby. [Iambs.] St. Petersburg: Alkonost, 1919. 8° (190 x 120mm). Vignette after Yuri Annenkov. Original wrappers, upper side with illustration after N. Kupreiannov (text block detached, wear at the extremities, small stain on back cover). Provenance: Alexander Blok (gift inscription to:) -- Varvara Alexeeva-Meskhieva (actress; b. 1898).](https://devapim.christies.com/uat/lot-images/5504936/2011/CSK/2011_CSK_03013_0192_000(blok_alexander_iamby_iambs_st_petersburg_alkonost_1919_8_vignette_afte010003).jpg?maxwidth=3840)