Месс Менд или Янки в Петрограде, роман [Mess Mend or Yankees in Petrograd, A Novel], a popular crime series in installments by Jim Dollar. Moscow-Leningrad: Государственное издательство, 1924. Russian.

Eight out of ten booklets published in the series: booklets 1-7 and 9 (booklets 8 and 10 missing). Covers in Constructivist design, using photomontage technique, by Alexander Rodchenko.

A crime series in installments by Jim Dollar (Джим Доллар – pen name of Soviet writer of Armenian origin Marietta Shaginyan – Мариэтта Серге́евна Шагинян; 1888-1982).

The novel describes the adventures of two American heroe who arrive in Russia during the October Revolution aiming to enrich themselves. Against the backdrop of political and social upheavals, the writer presents a colorful and vivid picture of Russia in those days. Through the characters of Henry and Jack and their efforts to exploit the chaos and uncertainty in post-revolution Russia for their personal gain, Shaginyan presents the contrasts between American values (such as individualism and pursuit of wealth) and the new Soviet ideals.

The series is considered one of the first works of popular Soviet literature, which influenced many similar works that followed. In 1926, the writer adapted the novel into a silent film titled "Miss Mend" (Мисс Менд). The film, directed by Fyodor Otsep and Boris Barnet, became one of the most successful action films of the period in the Soviet Union. See enclosed booklet.

Eight booklets (continuous page numbering): 1-248, 280-303 pages. Approx. 18 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, creases and wear. Tears to edges of covers and spines. Inscriptions and stamps.

Enclosed is an additional booklet by Marietta Shaginyan: "How I Wrote Mess Mend, For the Production of the Film 'Miss Mend'" (Как я писала Месс-Менд, К постановке "Мисс!-Менд"). Moscow: Кинопечать, 1926. Russian.

16 pages. 17.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Many stains. Stamp and inscription.

MoMA 548.

Alexander Rodchenko (Алекса́ндр Миха́йлович Ро́дченко; 1891-1956), Russian artist, designer, sculptor, and photographer, member of the Constructivist movement. Rodchenko studied art in Kazan, Tatarstan, and Moscow. He began his career in Cubist and Futurist styles, later gravitating towards Suprematism and geometric abstraction, influenced by Kandinsky and Malevich. Rodchenko served as Vladimir Tatlin's assistant, was his student, and participated in a 1916 exhibition curated by Tatlin. Under his influence, in 1919 Rodchenko began creating three-dimensional works made from various materials (wood, metal, etc.), characterized by interlocking geometric shapes forming airy and dynamic compositions.

During the 1920s, he worked regularly with the poet Vladimir Mayakovsky, illustrating and photographing his books, issues of the "Left Front of the Arts" (LEF; ЛЕФ) journal, as well as books and publications by other Russian Futurist and avant-garde creators, and regularly published his photographs in the press.

Rodchenko is considered one of the most versatile artists of the Russian avant-garde: he was among the leaders of the Productivist faction, which advocated strengthening the connection between art and industrial production, and between it and the working and consumer population, thus turning to furniture design and applied arts; later he was drawn to photography and photomontage and engaged in them extensively (considered one of the pioneers of the genre), designed posters, illustrated books, worked in graphics and typography, and created sets for theater and cinema.