Library and Rare Books
Of special note is a collection of nearly 1,500 books of Russian—largely émigré—poetry (most autographed or inscribed by the author), which was assembled and sold by Dmitry Tarasenkov, the son of a prominent Russian literary scholar and bibliophile. The collection includes many first editions, ranging from Sirin (Nabokov) to the very latest works of the avant-garde writers of the “Third Wave,” published in very small editions. Combined with the Ivask Collection of Russian Émigré Poetry, acquired in 1987, the Tarasenkov Collection makes Amherst College one of the largest repositories of Russian emigre poetry in the United States.
The “jewel in the crown” of the Whitney library is a truly magnificent collection of books by early 20th-century Russian avant-garde writers and artists (e.g. Kandinsky, Malevich, Goncharova, Rozanova, Remizov, Khlebnikov and Kruchenykh) whose creations are by design both art and literature. Often the fruit of collaboration between writers and artists, these books, many of which were hand-made, and all of which were published in tiny editions, often contain stunning graphics.
The art section of the library (1,000 volumes) contains a very rare early 18th-century lectern Bible with typographical decorations and rich engravings, as well as several folios and elephant folios of considerable value. An especially scarce set is Grand Duke Nikolai's Portraits Russes des XVIIIe et XIXe Siecles, published in 5 volumes between 1905 and 1909, which originally belonged to the Russian artist and scenic designer Alexander Benois (1870-1960), who penciled in on virtually every page of text his own comments, annotations and corrections.
Other sections of the library include books about books, history, philosophy and the sciences, stage (containing works on theater, cinema, music and dance), and reference.
All Center books are searchable through the Frost Library catalog by going to Advanced Search and selecting the location "Amherst College Center for Russian Culture." You can also read more about specific book collections and browse the lists of Rare Books below.
The Rare Book Collection
A large and absolutely unique collection of first editions and of Russian Futurist and kindred trends of avant-garde writers and artists, many of whose creations are by design both art and literature. Some books are products of artist-writer collaboration; others have been completely hand-made, the text hand-written and the artwork lithographed and pulled by the creator. Original linocuts are featured in many of these works of art and literature. The graphics are in black-and-white and in brilliant colors. The editions are quite often infintesimal. Included here is an extremely rare collection of pamphlets and brochures by Russia's first Dadaist, Sergei Charchoune (1888-1975).
Rare Books Lists updated February 2015
Edited Works And Journals (By Title)
Individual Books (By Author):
Note: Oversized books (call numbers starting with “x” or “xx”) are located on separate shelves to the right of the other rare books, again sorted alphabetically by author.
Polly and Irving Allen Collection of Russian Illustrated Books
A collection of almost 300 early 20th-century Russian illustrated books — pre-Revolutionary and early Soviet, including books illustrated by émigré artists and published outside Russia, often in other languages. The focus of the collection is illustrated children’s books, but there are other illustrated books, and a few periodicals, ballet programs and art catalogs. Artists include Altman, Alekseev, Bakst, Benois, Bilibin, Dobuzhinsky, El Lissitsky, Goncharova, Konashevich, Lebedev, Mitrokhin, et al.
The Dmitri Tarasenkov Collection
A collection of nearly 1,500 books devoted to emigre literature, especially poetry, assembled by Dmitri Tarasenkov, son of the prominent Russian literary scholar and critic. The collection contains both first editions and some of the very latest works by the avant-garde writers of the recent "Third Wave" who publish in very small editions.
The George (Yuri Pavlovich) Ivask Collection
A collection of several hundred first editions, many of them inscribed to Professor Ivask (1907-1986).
The General Collection
Over 10,000 volumes dealing with Russian fiction, art and architecture, books about books, history, politics, linguistics, philosophy, economics, geography, music, theater, cinema and dance, cooking, law, history of religion, military history, and reference. The library constitutes a good standard collection of Russian writing, on a large scale.