[EARLY SOVIET COMPILATION OF ZULU TALES] Skazki Zulu: Izinganekwane. Ills. by Nikolai Alexeyevich Ushin (1898-1942). (Iaziki i Literatura Afriki I). [i.e. Zulu tales].

Comp. by I. L. SNEGIREVA, Izdatelstvo Akademii NAUK, Leningrad, 1937.

Original orange cloth bdg. The illustration depicted hunting Zulus between the titles of Cyrillic and Latin ones. Demy 8vo. (22,5 x 15 cm). The text is fully in Russian. Fading on cloth. Otherwise a good copy. [iii], 246, [2] p., 10 color plates and many unnumbered illustrations (b/w and color). Soiling on cloth, marginal fadings on pages. overall a good copy.

First edition of the first-ever comprehensive compilation of Zulu tales in the Soviet Union, printed as the first volume in the African Literature Series. The book contains 43 selected tales of Zulus, with an index and "with an introductory article, translated and annotated by I. L. Snegireva; illustrated by N. A. Ushin [OCLC]".

Nikolai Alexeyevich Ushin (1898-1942) was a Soviet graphic artist, theatre designer, and book illustrator. In the 1920s, Ushin began designing theatrical decorations for stage performances. He creatively adapted the themes of medieval Russian painting and Palekh miniature. As a particularly recognized work by him, Ushin illustrated the Russian translation of One Thousand and One Nights published in eight volumes by Academia. His illustrations for One Thousand and One Nights were awarded the gold medal at the 1937 Paris Exposition. Ushin also made lithographs and bookplates.

OCLC 869825603 / 28384126.