Vladimir Mayakovsky / B.B. Маяковский – 150.000.000 – First Edition / первое издание 1921

A scarce first printing of the satirical poem by the Russian artist, playwright and author Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893-1930).

One of just 5,000 copies that were published in an initial print run in April 1921. The title refers to the size of the Russian population, and was meant to symbolise collective efforts to resist American intervention in Russia’s Civil War period, during which the verse was written. This first edition was authored anonymously, at Mayakovsky’s request, and only in later versions did his name appear on the title.

The poem was popular and had wide public recitals, but was not particularly well-received by Lenin and other senior Bolshevik officials. Lenin described it as a “pretentious” experiment in Futurism and said that only a “maximum” of 1,500 copies should have been printed. However it was not banned by the authorities and remained in print.

An enthusiastic early supporter of the Bolshevik revolution, Mayakovsky later became disillusioned with the ensuing regime and wrote a number of satirical, critical plays, notably The Bedbug (1929). He committed suicide in 1930 at the age of just 36.

Stapled, in the original wrappers, with private library stamps to front cover and three other pages inside. No other wriwting or marking. Light toning, otherwise in very good condition overall. 70 pages, 13.6cm x 18cm. Published by the State Publishing House in Moscow in 1921.

A rare and important piece for collectors of early Soviet-era literature.