Soviet Posters November 20, 2011 Internet, Phone and Mail Bid Auction Lot 34

SOVIET POSTERS November 20, 2011 Internet, Phone and Mail Bid Auction Lot 34 Lot Mercer and Middlesex Auctions, Llc Phone: +1.609.632.1692 • Fax: +1.609.235.9667 • [email protected] • www.memiauctions.com A Few Words About This Sale This fall, a visitor to Chicago has an opportunity to visit not one, but several interesting exhibitions of Soviet posters, running under the umbrella of the year-long, citywide The Soviet Experience cultural program. These are serious, professionally-curated exhibits, covering a wide range of periods and topics. In a very small way, the material presented in our November auction reflects the richness of the Soviet poster art tradition that is now on display in Chicago. The sale opens with a small selection of poster and caricature-related artworks that includes Lenin by Igor Ershov, from 1930, whose works were immediately noted by Moscow critics of the time. On to the Fair, by Lev Brodaty, from 1939, was prompted by the sensational Soviet non-stop flight from Moscow to North America. Stories related to Kokkinaki’s dramatic flight dominated American newspapers’ front pages for several days in a row. The viewer will also find in this section artwork for a pair of early Boyevoi Karandash posters from the Finnish War period (even the regular posters are rare), and ever-popular WWII and space-related works. The posters section is highlighted by Maliutin’s iconicTo the Polish Front, several important early posters by Moor, and by the wonderful Dayesh Motor! by Cheremnykh, a poster that reflects the Soviet fascination with the promise of aviation. Because of the direct quotation from Trotsky, this poster is rarely found intact. Among the posters from the 1920s and 1930s, one will find a great large-size poster by Young, satirical works by his brother Yu. Ganf and by Kukryniksy, the well-executed works of Elkin and Kochergin, and a curious panegyrical poster by Toidze. The Constructivist movement is also well-represented, with posters by such artists as Adolf Strakhov, Vladimir Schwartz, and Faik Tagirov. The depth of talent among the posterists of the period is illustrated by strong designs by lesser-known or anonymous artists (see, e.g., lot 38). Also, do not miss the tragic story behind the poster by Nikolai Mikhailov (Diomidi)—the artist was handed over to GPU by his Artists Union colleagues, after he “surreptitiously introduced elements of mysticism” into his painting depicting the funeral of the communist leader Kirov (lot 44). The sale also includes an interesting selection of WWII posters, highlighted by Serov’s iconic Our Cause is Just, Kokorekin’s The Victorious Warrior, and Ayva- zian’s Tass Windows poster from the ever popular Our ABC series. We urge the viewer not to miss the post-1945 selection, and not just because it includes some great late works by V. Koretsky. There are some other “sleepers” in this section, including the curious 1946 Soviet-style “right-to-life” poster Do Not Deny Yourself the Joys of Motherhod by Chernov (lot 84). Space and time constraints prevent me from pointing out other interesting works that are spread over the entire sale. “A picture is worth a thousand words”, so please take a look at the catalog. The sale will again be conducted in the internet, mail, and phone auction format. For internet bidding, we are using LiveAuctioneers platform. To participate in live bidding by phone, please put the numbers of the lots you are interested in on the bidding form, include your phone and fax or email it to us. Yakov Lurye, auctioneer, Mercer and Middlesex Auctions Contents of the Sale 1. Artwork For Posters and Caricatures (lots 1–6)....................... 1 2. Russian Federation Period, 1917–1922 (lots 7–28) ..................... 4 3. Soviet Union Before WWII, 1923–1940 (lots 29–56) ................. 15 4. World War II, 1941–1945 (lots 57–83)............................. 29 5. Post-WWII, 1945–1973 (lots 84–102) ............................. 42 Terms and Conditions By bidding at our auction, whether in person, by phone, absentee bid, or unequivocally that the auctioned item is a forgery. on the internet, you agree to be bound by the following terms and condi- 9. A prospective buyer must complete and sign a registration form before tions. As used in the following terms and conditions, MMA, We, and Us bidding. MMA reserves the right to require bank or other financial refers to Mercer and Middlesex Auctions, LLC. references for participation in the auction or bidding on a specific lot. 1. There is a 20% buyer’s premium added to the successful hammer price MMA has the right at our complete discretion to refuse any individual of every lot, which the purchaser of the lot agrees to pay along with bidder’s participation in any auction. When making a bid, a bidder is applicable taxes as part of the total purchase price. accepting personal liability to pay the purchase price, including the buyer’s premium and all applicable taxes, plus all other applicable 2. Payment for auction lots and premiums, can only be made by cash, charges, unless it has been explicitly agreed in writing with Mercer and check, bank wire transfer (domestic or international) or money order. Middlesex Auctions, LLC. before the commencement of the sale that Credit cards can only be accepted by special arrangement; the prospec- the bidder is acting as agent on behalf of an identified third party ac- tive buyer should contact us in advance. We reserve the right to hold ceptable to us, and that we will only look to the principal for payment. items paid by check from unknown buyers until payment has cleared. 10. We reserve the right to withdraw any property before or during the 3. Lots purchased online may be subject to a different buyer’s premium, sale and shall have no liability whatsoever for such withdrawal. as specified in the online version of the catalog as posted on the site through which the lot is purchased. 11. Unless otherwise announced by the auctioneer, all bids are per lot as numbered in the catalogue. 4. MMA is required by law to collect and remit the appropriate sales tax in the States of New York and New Jersey. Unless exempted by the law, 12. Mercer and Middlesex Auctions, LLC. and its auctioneer have the the purchaser will be required to pay state, and local sales taxes, any right at our absolute and sole discretion to refuse any bid, to advance applicable compensating use taxes of another state, and if applicable, the bidding in such a manner as we may decide, to withdraw or divide any federal luxury or other tax, on the total purchase price including any lot, to combine any two or more lots and, in the case of error or buyer’s premium. Purchases picked up or delivered to locations in dispute, and whether during or after the sale, to determine the success- New Jersey State and New York are subject to sales or compensating ful bidder, to continue the bidding, to cancel the sale or to reoffer and use tax of corresponding jurisdiction. Buyers claiming exemption from resell the item in dispute. We reserve the right to reject any bid. Sub- sales tax must have the appropriate documentation on file with MMA ject to our discretion, the highest bidder accepted by the auctioneer prior to the release of the property. If property is delivered to a state will be the buyer and the striking of his hammer marks the acceptance where MMA is not required to collect sales tax, it is the responsibility of the highest bid and conclusion of a contract for sale between the of the purchaser to self-assess any sales or use tax and remit it to taxing seller and buyer. authorities in that state. MMA is not required to collect sales tax for 13. All lots in this catalogue are offered subject to a reserve, which is the property delivered to the purchaser outside of the United States. confidential minimum hammer price at which a lot will be sold. Re- 5. If the auction is conducted outside our premises in New Jersey, pur- serves are agreed upon with consignors or, the absence thereof, in the chaser is expected to pay all applicable sales and use taxes as governed absolute discretion of MMA. We may implement reserves by opening by the law of the state in which the auction is conducted. the bidding on behalf of the consignor and may bid up to the amount of the reserve, by placing successive or consecutive bids for a lot, or 6. Any items bought by phone, absentee bid, or online, or otherwise not bids in response to other bidders. In certain instances, the consignor picked up in person on the auction day, will be stored by MMA and will may pay us less than the standard commission rate where a lot is be made available for shipment or pick-up by appointment only. Pur- “bought-in” to protect its reserve. If the auctioneer decides that any chaser should contact MMA at the time of payment if they have specific opening bid is below the reserve of the article offered, he may reject preferences with regard to shipment. the same and withdraw the article. 7. The items offered for sale by Mercer and Middlesex Auctions, LLC. are 14. Subject to fulfillment of all of the conditions set forth herein, on the offered either as agent for consignors or by us as owner. The contract fall of the auctioneer’s hammer, title to the offered lot will pass to for sale of the items is made therefore between the consignor of the the highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer, and such bidder property and the buyer.

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