Society and Book Culture: Rare editions of "Lay" are presented at the exhibition "Golden" Word" of Russian literature" in Yaroslavl

The Yaroslavl Museum-Preserve from 8 February 2017 invites visitors to get acquainted with the new exhibition "Golden" Word" of Russian literature", which was opened at the exhibition hall of the exhibition "Lay".

Throughout the history of the "Lay", since its acquisition and its first publication in 1800, this work was repeatedly published and republished. The Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve presents rare and ancient Russian poem bibliophilic publications since the mid XIX century to the present day. 

The museum collection has three modern unique edition of "Lay", all of which are on display. One of them - a book in French, released by the publishing house Versailles "The Golden Bough" in 1998 at the hand-made paper of 400 copies. Other rare edition was published by the publishing house "Vita Nova", in St. Petersburg - a folio leather-bound and gift box. The graceful complement to the tome is a porcelain plaque, made by the art director of the Imperial Porcelain Factory, the artist Sergey Rusakov. Copies of this unique publication - only 47 copies. The collection of the Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve – issue number 44. In the exhibition is presented another masterpiece of book publishing, released by the publishing house "Rare Book from St. Petersburg" with illustrations by the best domestic graphics illustrator Yuri Lukshin. It is noteworthy that these three unique folios were presented to the Yaroslavl Museum-Reserve as a gift.

All three books are beautifully illustrated. To see the illustrations closer, "reviewing" them one by one, can be possible in electronic form.

For the first time viewers are presented graphic works to the "Lay" of the work by Yuri Lukshin issued by the artist in a separate series after the publication of the above mentioned books. Thus, the visitors will have the unique opportunity to evaluate the same job as an illustration in a book format and as a standalone product of graphics.

On the background of precious, unique editions completely different look small booklet format in a simple paper-bound - it is also the publication "Lay", just released a large circulation and addressed quite specific reader - schoolboy or student of a secondary school. The fact that the study of ancient Russian poem was included in the compulsory program in literature as early as the middle of the XIX century, after generations of readers identified him with the idea of ​​Russian statehood and patriotism. And the rulers, and the publishers were interested in the fact that this book was available to everyone.

The exposition widely features less rare editions of ancient Russian poem issued by various publishers.