Measures 7" x 9", 294 pp., paper-laminated hard cover, published by VOENIZDAT, the Military Publishing House of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR. Circulation unknown.

This is a very rare early post-war publication of stories about the Battle of Stalingrad, told by residents of the city, participants and survivors of the great battle. The book contains sixty-two such stories, transcribed into literary narrations by two professional writers, and illustrated by seven artists with sixty-three drawings depicting the events described in the stories, some of them full-page prints in color.

The book is printed on high-quality coated paper, and features a framed insert with the image of the Medal for the Defense of Stalingrad on a separate page under a protective sheet of rice paper. The flyleaf has a hand-typed inscription reading "In memory, to Yuri O. on his birthday, from V. Kotenko. 16 September 1951." Presumably, this was a gift from a survivor of the battle to a young relative or friend.

In very good to excellent condition. The cover shows mild to moderate wear to the paper laminate, mostly along the edges where the laminate, wrapped around the cardboard, has partly worn off, but also in the form of minor foxing, scuffs and stains - actually, blending rather well with the graphic on the front cover.

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