| The manuscript and rare book department contains a lot of
valuable documents: "The History of Russian Theatre" by S.Svetlov,
letters by A.Benois, A.Golovin, A.Suvorin, F.Schalyapin, V.Komissarzhevskaya,
M.Schepkin, P.Mochalov, T.Karsavina, Maria Taglioni, Sarah Bernhart, Eleonore
Duse, Ernesto Rossi and others.
Among the rare books one might found "The Works and Translations
by V.Lukin" in 2 volumes, Theatre de L'Hermitage de Catherine II.
- V.1-2.- Paris,1799; The Hermitage Theatre. Collected Works by Catherine
II. - V.1-2. - St.Petersburg, 1802; Complete Works of all Russian Theatrical
Writings in 43 volumes; first editions of the Russian dramatists of the
XVIII-XIXth centuries, books of Russian futurists of the XXth century and
much more besides.
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Rarities from collection of the Library. |
| Some books from the private collections bear presentation
inscriptions and autographs from N.Nekrasov, N.Leskov, I.Turgenev, I.Goncharov,
D.Merezkovsky, A.Blok, I.Bunin, L.Andreev, N.Evreinov and other Russian
writers.
Theatre scholar Yu.Nelidov was the Director of the Library from 1923
till 1933. It was the time of forming of the traditions of the current
libraries' activities. At that time the art and production department was
established on the basis of the Mounting Library of the Imperial Theatres.
It contains not only illustrations relating to the history of stage
and everyday costume, interiors, furniture and everyday life, but also
the original costumes and set designs by Boquet, P.Gonzago, A.Roller, V.Gartman,
A.Scharleman, I.Vsevo-lozhsky, E.Ponomarev, A.Benois, L.Bakst, A.Golovin,
K.Korovin, B.Anisfeld and other theatre artists for plays, opera and ballet.
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