Each volume measures approx. 8 ¾" x 6", 304 pp and 288 pp respectively. Total weight nearly 4 lbs. Hardcover. Published by Cooperative Printing House of I. Sytnikov, Moscow. (Sytnikov's Printing House is also known for producing a high number of propaganda lithographs). Circulation unknown. Russian text, although a good part of the novel contains dialogs in foreign languages, predominantly French and English, as most Russians of the middle class and especially nobility spoke several languages fluently and considered it good manners to converse in them. All foreign-language text is annotated with Russian translation. Printed in pre-reform Russian orthography containing currently obsolete letters. Of note is that the title page of vol. 2 has a handwritten pencil notation reading "Al Pogozheva New York 1924". The author of this inscription used the Latin letter "Y" in "York" while the rest of the letters are in Ciryllic. This suggests that m-me Pogozheva probably lived in the Big Apple at that time.

In good to very good condition. As far as the hard cover goes, the leatherette cover glued to the front board of vol. 3-4 has separated a little from the board at 3 corners but this is an easy 5-minute fix. The other covers are still firmly attached. The boards of the vol. 3-4 cover also have very minor corner bumps. The cover of vol. 1-2 fared much better in this regard, even though it suffered the appetite of a mouse at some point which partook a little of the top left corner of Tolstoy's masterpiece. The internal pages of both volumes are in very good condition. They are moderately age-toned and look a bit brittle at the very edges even though turning the pages does not produce any paper chaff and the paper feels supple.

Count Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy, or Leo Tolstoy as he is known to the entire non-Russian-speaking world, had just the right combination of breed, upbringing, military experience and literary talent to create an enormous canvas of the life in Russia in the early 19th century encompassing the Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon as well as peaceful years around it, mixing fictional characters with real historic events. All through the eyes of five Russian aristocratic families. The novel was first published serially, the first part published in 1865 under the title The Year 1805 but in 1869, after many corrections by Tolstoy, the novel was published in its entirety under its present title. Each part is followed by commentaries which are mostly philosophical musings and discussions. War and Peace is considered to be Tolstoy's highest achievement as a writer and retains a prized position among the classic works of world literature.

Please note that the pen in our last photo is for size reference.