First in-print appearance of Anton Chekhov's last play: Vishnyovy Sad [The Cherry Orchard] published in Sbornik T-va Znaniye, Vol. II. First edition. St. Petersburg: Znanie, 1904. Rebound in a quarter leather hardcover binding, 5.75 x 8, 318 pages. Written by Chekhov in 1903, The Cherry Orchard was first performed under the direction of Konstantin Stanislavski in the Moscow Art Theater in January 1904. Chekhov described the play as a comedy, with some elements of farce, though Stanislavski treated it as a tragedy. It was then published in this issue of Sbornik T-va Znaniye, appearing on pages 29-106. Chekhov's play is now widely regarded as a classic of 20th-century theatre. Aside from Chekhov's famous play, issue 2 of the 1903 Zhaniye Sbornik also featured Mirnoye Zhit'yo [A Peaceful Living] by Alexandr Kuprin (1890-1937), as well as an important novel Evrei [The Jews] by Solomon Yushkevich (1864-1927), that had shocked the progressive Russian public by describing the horror of anti-Jewish violence in Tsarist Russia. In very good condition, with a partial split to the front board's joint, edgewear and rubbing to boards, bumped corners, and and rubbing to leather spine.
