NABOKOV, Vladimir Vladimirovich. Otchaianie. [Despair.] Berlin: Petropolis, 1936. 8° (200 x 135mm). (A few leaves with shallow creases.) Original printed wrappers (small chips on the front cover, tear and French censor's stamp on the rear cover). Provenance: Vladimir Nabokov (ink gift inscription, later cancelled in pencil, to:) -- Iosif Aleksandrovich Hessen -- Vladimir Nabokov -- by descent to the consignor.

NABOKOV, Vladimir Vladimirovich. Otchaianie. [Despair.] Berlin: Petropolis, 1936. 8° (200 x 135mm). (A few leaves with shallow creases.) Original printed wrappers (small chips on the front cover, tear and French censor's stamp on the rear cover). Provenance: Vladimir Nabokov (ink gift inscription, later cancelled in pencil, to:) -- Iosif Aleksandrovich Hessen -- Vladimir Nabokov -- by descent to the consignor.

FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, in Russian, to his friend Hessen: 'Iosif Aleksandrovich, as a sign of long-standing and constant friendship! V. Nabokov. April 36.' Close ties existed between the Nabokovs, both Vladimir father and son, and the Hessen family, particularly with Iosif Vladimirovich, publisher at Berlin's 'Slovo'. Despair had appeared in serial form in 1934 in Sovremennie Zapiski. Rare: ABPC records only the copy inscribed by Nabokov to his wife and son. Juliar A15.1.