KRYLOV, IVAN ANDREEVICH. 1769-1844.
Basni. [Fables]. St. Petersburg: Smirdin, 1844.
8vo. 334 pp. Contemporary half calf over paper-covered boards, gilt spine; foxing throughout the text.
Provenance: S. M. Babinetsev and A. V. Leontev (bookplates).
RARE "FUNERAL" EDITION of the famous "Fables" with the special memorial page dated November 9, 1844 at the front, and the black-edged invitation to the poet's funeral on November 13, 1844 tipped after the title page; also, a small lithographed portrait of Krylov, the Russian La Fontaine, laid in the front. This was the last edition prepared by the author himself as a remembrance for his friends.
![KRYLOV, IVAN ANDREEVICH. 1769-1844. Basni. [Fables]. St. Petersburg: Smirdin, 1844.<BR />](http://images2.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2012-10/26/8664764-20-1.jpg&width=640&height=480&halign=l0&valign=t0&autosizefit=0)