Lot #63: Rare 1956 Latvian Folk Tales (Latviešu Tautas Pasakas) First Edition – Illustrated Soviet-

Rare 1956 Latvian Folk Tales (Latviešu Tautas Pasakas) First Edition – Illustrated Soviet-Era Splendor, P. Šenhofs Art, Intact Inscription & Patriotic Ephemera Insert Historic first edition copy of "Latviešu tautas pasakas: Izlase" (Latvian Folk Tales: A Selection), published in Riga, 1956 by the Academy of Sciences of the Latvian SSR (Latvijas PSR Zinātņu Akadēmijas Izdevniecība). This heavy, authoritative volume serves as a comprehensive anthology compiled by the prestigious Institute of Ethnography and Folklore, bringing together generations of rich oral storytelling into a single monumental work. Illustrations & Design The book features stunning visual design by the celebrated Latvian artist Pāvels Šenhofs (P. Šenhofs). It is highly prized for its vibrant full-page color plates alongside sepia-toned chapter headers, tailpieces, and intricate drop caps depicting woodland creatures, folkloric heroes, and mythological beasts. The endpapers feature beautiful, framed vignettes illustrating timeless tales like the clever hedgehog outsmarting the hare and a heroic knight charging up the fabled Glass Mountain. • Interior: The pages are remarkably clean. The rich color illustrations retain their vibrant hues. • Special Features: This unique copy includes a charming, authentic hand-written ink inscription on the flyleaf dated Christmas 1960, reading: "Jānītim – no Latvijas! 1960. g. Ziemassvētkos. Vecmāmiņa, vectētiņš un onkulītis" (For little Jānis – from Latvia! Christmas, 1960. From Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle). • Bonus Ephemera: Tucked safely inside is a separate, vintage typed slipsheet containing a patriotic poem dedicated to the forbidden red-white-red Latvian flag ("Mūsu sarkanbaltsarkanais karogs...") by Kārlis Ulmanis, adding immense historical depth to this specific copy. • The Publisher (Soviet Censorship vs. Cultural Preservation): Published during the Khrushchev Thaw in 1956 by the Latvijas PSR Zinātņu Akadēmijas Izdevniecība, this book represents a complex era. While the introduction (Ievads) frames folklore through a mandatory Soviet-Marxist class struggle lens ("the struggle of the working people against social enemies"), the core text acts as a vital act of preservation, cataloging genuine, unaltered pre-Soviet folk heritage. • The Authorship & Academy Curation: This is not a simple children's storybook; it is an academic anthology compiled by renowned folklore scholars of the era (including A. Ancelāne, K. Arājs, and M. Asares). The extensive index at the back cross-references every single tale with its archival index number (e.g., LP, PS), citing the specific historical region or collector it originated from, making it highly valuable to ethnographers. • The Latvian Language: Written entirely in the rich, native Latvian language, this book was an essential vessel for keeping national identity, linguistics, and cultural mythology alive during a period of heavy cultural Russification in the Baltic states. Pickup category timeslot {A}