KIT OF 10 PHOTOGRAPHS OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN WARTIME RUSSIA
New York: National Council of American Soviet Friendship, ca. 1945. Separate Images in Portfolio. A cardboard portfolio containing ten 10 1/4 in. x 8 in. glossy photographs of Soviet children reading books, libraries, outdoor lessons, reading rooms, studies in underground rooms, etc. etc. The portfolio was de-accessioned from a state library in the mid 1940s. Appears to have first been circulated in January of 1945, then once more in May of 1947, then taken out of circulation.
Accompanied by an 8 1/2" x 13 1/2 information sheet (folded and partially seam torn at the fold) listing the official captions, with a note that
they correspond to the number on the reverse sides of the numbered photographs. The note goes on the advise that if publication space is
wanting, "copy may be shortened by using only the first sentence of each caption."
SOME of the Photos/Captions include: #1) "A young Kalmyck child learns to read in his native language; #3) "In warm weather, rural schools hold their natural science lessons in the open air."; #4) In the northern areas of the Soviet Union, children are taken to and brought from school in sleds. In the vast desert stretches, there are special traveling schools and libraries bringing books and education to the scattered peoples."; #5) Children under eight have their own puppet theatre known as the Childrens Book Theatre. The chief character, Punch, acts out favorite stories to encourage the reading of books from which they are adapted"; #6) Stage star Ivan Moskvin, tells Soviet children favorite stories at one of the special recreational buildings known as 'Children's Palaces,'. Authors frequently test out unpublished books upon young audiences before the final printing.";#8) Soviet school children dress a doll in a HIawatha costume after reading Longfellow's poem which is a great favorite in the U.S.S.R. The works of Jack London, Mark Twain and Uncle Tom's Cabin are also best sellers." #9) Underground libraries were set up to circulate books, newspapers and magazines to civilians taking shelter from the German bombers." Very Good plus. Item #100004
Price: $225.00