MOSCOW HAS A PLAN - A SOVIET PRIMER (First edition - illustrated)

First impression of the true first edition - with striking illustrations throughout by William Kermode. ***Near fine in the illustrated cloth-covered boards, boldly designed by William Kermode in a Futurist style, with black titles to the spine and front board. The boards are clean with just some light stains and marks commensurate with age and handling, and some light rubbing at the edges. No creases, bumps or tears to the cloth. Top edge of page block stained black by the publisher - nice and clean. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally also near fine, with a neat ownership name and place in fountain-pen ink to the top of the front free endpaper. Endpapers lightly off-set but no foxing. Pages clean. No creases or tears. Without the scarce dustwrapper. ***218 pages plus a tipped-in publisher's advert sheet at the back of the book. 206mm x 155mm. ***Contents chapters as follows: Preface - What the Story is About, I. Two Countries, II. The scouts of the Five Year PLan, III. Conquerors of Their Own Country, IV. The Conquest of Water and Wind, V. The Dead Work, VI. An Electrified Country, VII. To Arms! To Conquer Metal!, VIII. Iron Workmen, IX. The Chemical Brigade of Our Country, X. Mines of Grain, XI. The war With the Miles, XII. New People. ***This book, designed in Russia for the masses and for young people, is not epoch-making - it is epoch-indicating. It paints with excitement; it laughs with delight as it skips forward through the story of Russia's conscious organization to get the very utmost out of the artificial use of natural forces. When we read it, and find ourselves swept past its naivety, impetuously carried forward (though all the material is so obvious and familiar), we discover that it is inspired. Then, if we reflect, we may shake our heads sadly and feel chilly at the spine - for we are excited only by mystic contemplation of absolutes; we are bored by applied science - while these folk are inspired by it. We show a symptom of age. They are flamboyant with youth.' (Quote taken from the Note at the beginning of the book) ***First impression of the true first edition - rare to find in such well-preserved condition. An impressive piece of book-design, with the illustrations of William Kermode complementing the text superbly; the text presents the first Five Year Plan in a simple and persuasive style aimed at ordinary working people and younger readers, often by directly contrasting its programme with that of the West, observing in the American economic system the absence of a general plan. Of interest to collectors of 1930s Soviet history and the illustrated designs of William Kermode. ***For all our books, postage is charged at cost, allowing for packaging: any shipping rates indicated on ABE are an average only: we will reduce the P & P charge where appropriate - please contact us for postal rates for heavier books and sets etc. …