Salvo for Russia : A Limited Edition of New Poems, Etchings and Engravings Produced in Aid of the Comforts Fund for Women and Children of Soviet Russia.

Privately Printed, London) in 1942. Nancy Cunard's very scarce portfolio 'Salvo for Russia' and one of the few major works of English Surrealism. The portfolio was edited by both Nancy Cunard and John Banting. Two leaves (a single bifolium) of text with four poems recto and verso by Cecily Mackworth, James Law Forsyth, J. F. Hendry and Nancy Cunard and 10 loosel original engravings on laid paper ' by various artists (see below), each signed and numbered by the relevant artist in pencil; sheet size: 225 x 162 mm. Sheets irregularly trimmed retaining deckle edges. There is the usually encountered occasional minor spotting and toning to the sheet edges but the prints are unaffected. The loose original tissue guards are all present and are toned and spotted (and are housed to the rear of the portfolio as new loose tissue guards have been inserted between the prints to offer further protection). Housed in the original publisher's red cloth-backed grey board portfolio with the blue printed title label to the front cover, black silk ties. The portfolios in near fine condition. The edition is limited to only 100 copies although it is thought that an additional 4 hors commerce copies were also issued. This series is one of the artists proof / HS series and all the prints are numbered by the artists as either AP , 'HS or AP/14'. Each of the original prints are signed and numbered as above by the relevant artists. The contributing artists are : - John Banting : 'The Spirit of Appeasement (NB : His only etching) - John Piper : 'Derelict House', here untitled (NB : His first published engraving ) - Mary Wykeham : 'Attack - C. Salisbury : 'Iceland' and dated '42 - Julian Trevelyan : 'Soldier - Geza Szobel : 'Horse', here untitled - Dolf Rieser : 'Bird', here untitled - John Buckland Wright : Combat , here untitled - Roland Penrose : 'Antique Statue', here untitled, engraved by Buckland Wright and signed by both artists - Ithell Colquhoun : 'Zodiac' Now housed in a custom solander box, gilt titling and with marbled inserts. Published by Nancy Cunard as 'a limited edition of new poems, etchings and engravings' to raise money for the 'Comforts Fund for Women and Children of Soviet Russia' after the invasion by the Germans, this is one of the very few British purely Surrealist publications and very similar in format and production to the two portfolios 'Solidarité' (Paris, 1938) and 'Fraternity' (London, 1939) issued in support of the Spanish Government during the Spanish Civil War. A very rare survivor which rarely appears on the open market. Collectible. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.