[THE FIRST SOVIET POWER STATION IN TRANSCAUCASIA / ELECTRIFICATION] Загэс / ZAGES (Zemo-Avchaly Hydroelectric Station)

Edited by V. I. AVAKOVA.

Izd. Jurnala “Ekonomist Grüzii”, Tiflis (Tbilisi), 1927.

Original illustrated wrappers. Demy 8vo. (21 x 14 cm). In Russian. vi, [2], 164, [1] p., 
[52] unnumbered b/w photographic plates. One is a panoramic photograph of the 
ZAHES. Slight wear on the spine and minor chipping on the lower left corner of the 
cover. One of 2000 copies. 

First and only edition of this rare photo-illustrated book on the construction of the V. I. Lenin Zemo-Avchaly Hydroelectric Station, “the construction of ZAHES which was a major step of Soviet power in the construction of the new Soviet Transcaucasia, the first essential undertaking in the matter of utilizing the rich water-power resources of Georgia” (Gvelesiani&Shmaltsel). The cover design, depicting the dam and the water tribune of the power plant is signed by “O. Sh.”, attributed to the renowned Russian-Georgian illustrator of German origin, Oskar Schmerling (1867-1938).

The ZAHES is located on the Kura River at its confluence with the Aragvi River near the city of Mtsketa. Construction was begun in 1923, and the first stage was put into operation in 1927; the plant reached full capacity in 1938. The plant has an 
installed capacity of 36.8 megawatts and an average annual output of 203 giga
watt-hours (203 million kilowatt-hours). The hydro system includes a concrete head 
dam 34 m high, a water intake, a diversion channel 3 km long along the left bank, a 
distributing basin, and a hydroelectric power plant building. The ZAGES has played 
a major role in the electrification of the Georgian SSR and was awarded the Order of 
the Red Banner of Labor in 1947. One of the first monuments to V. I. Lenin (by the 
sculptor I. D. Shadr) was erected here in 1927. (Farlex’s Free Dictionary).

The foreword after the editor’s preface is written by Soviet - Georgian politician Mik
heil Kakhiani (1896-1937), who served as First Secretary of the Georgian Communist 
Party from August 1924 to May 1930.

OCLC locates the sole copy at the NYPL as of December 2024 (62333282)