Measures approx. 10" x 8", 236 pp, hardcover, Russian text, published by DETGIZ (Children's State Publishers). The cover page has a strange small black ink stamp upside down and in English, reading "Printed in Soviet Union" (with "the" missing). Contains 7 of Hauff's best-known and loved fairy tales. Large print, excellent for the eyes of young readers. Each fairy tale is richly illustrated with multiple high-quality prints made from engravings on wood copying original drawings by Weber and Hoseman. Each illustration is signed in the left bottom corner either with the name of the artist or the engraver. This technique was an excellent choice to convey the somewhat dark and sometimes sinister atmosphere of Hauff's tales. Circulation only 50,000 copies, very low by Soviet standards, which, considering the year of publication and all the events following it, allows for a safe assumption that this book is quite a rare find nowadays.

In good condition. The cover shows traces of exposure to moisture but does not have a musty smell. "The worst" detriment to this book is the strange-looking missing top corner of the back cover and the corners of the pages next to it. It's too "organized" to look like mice bites, so we will leave it to your imagination. Rest assured though that the damaged area does not reach the print and is not really detractive. The textblock has weathered the decades of its existence splendidly, showing only mild and even age toning and only one very small stain on p. 18, a little of which transferred to the adjoining page. The binding is tight and strong.

Wilhelm Hauff (1802 - 1827) was a Württembergian poet and novelist, mostly known and famous for his fairy tales, often creating a dark brooding atmosphere.