ZEROMSKI, Stefan. — Wierna Rzeka: klechda

Very Good 1st Edition Spolka Nakladowa 'Ksiazka'. Sklady Gl.: S.A. Krzyzanowski, Krakow. J.Mortkowicz, Warszawa. The Polish Book Importing Co, New York Drukarnia Narodowa w Krakowie 8vo. [6], 264 p. On the half-title page a heraldic bookplate: "Ze zbioru Edwarda M. Sieradzkiego w Turowej Woli". Vignette by Anna Zawadzka. Copy No. 4190. Quarter black leather, marbled cover boards, red endpapers, embossed title to spine. The first edition of one of the most famous novels by Zeromski, based on a story taken from the stories of the writer's aunt - Jozefata Saska. The first edition was 10,000 copies, of which 6,000 were probably printed in a censored version intended for distribution in the Russian partition. The offered copy comes from this part of the edition. As the researcher of the first edition of "Wierna Rzeka", Wojciech Turek, wrote: "Soon after the outbreak of World War I, and in particular after the occupation of Polish lands under Russian rule by the armies of the Central Powers, unrestricted access to uncensored copies became possible. The censored edition was removed, treated disregard, considered unhelpful and therefore it is now rare (...). The censored edition of "Wierna Rzeka" still functions today as a special example of one of the most drastic actions of Russian censorship. Indeed, the scale of the interference with the original text was significant. Stanislaw Pigon precisely counted 30 removed fragments, from single words to entire paragraphs. The censored parts of the text have been replaced with dots. Pages 103-106 were set upside down. Corners bumped and rubbed, slightly wear on cover, spine lean, pages tanned due to age; long tear on p.83-84. Complete with one plate in black/white, clean and fresh.