The Defender
Charles Scribner's Sons, 1951. First Edition. Hardcover. Item #168448
ISBN: B00YI7TBQA
136 pages. A Newbery Honor recipient. It follows the story of Turgen, an herbalist in the mountains of Siberia, who rescues an injured young ram and comes to protect its disappearing herd. His care for the animals lead neighboring ram hunters to suspect him of sorcery. Kalashnikoff spent four years in political exile in the far north of Siberia before immigrating to the United States. Black-and-white illustrations by Claire and George Louden. First edition (first printing, with 'A' on the copyright page). In publisher's beige cloth with crisp black ink illustration on cover and titling on spine. Half-title and title pages creased, else a near fine copy. In a crisp, pictorial dust jacket a bit toned at the spine and unevenly faded on rear panel, with two short tears at the edges, thus very good. Jacket is clipped which may have been done by the publisher -- a $2.00 price stamp near the clip reflects the publisher’s original price. Inscribed by the author to the family of Paul Dotsenko, fellow Siberian refugees: 'With friendship and good wishes. Nicholas Kalashnikoff / Oct. 11, 1951 / New York.' Dotsenko is the author of the 1984 book The Struggle for a Democracy in Siberia, 1917-1920. A very nice association.
Price: $200.00