Belyaev, V. P. Old Fortress (Staraya krepost'), 1939. In Russian.

Беляев В. П. Старая крепость. / Рисунки и переплет Л. Вольштейна. 2-е издание, переработанное.
Москва — Ленинград : ДЕТИЗДАТ ЦК ВЛКСМ, 1939.
256 с. + 1 вклейка с ил. Издательский художественный переплет, увеличенный формат.
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Belyaev, V. P. Old Fortress (Staraya krepost'). / Illustrations and cover by L. Volshteyn. 2nd revised edition.
Moscow — Leningrad : DETIZDAT TsK VLKSM, 1939.
256 pp. + 1 plate. Publisher’s artistic hardcover, enlarged format.

This 1939 edition of "Old Fortress" represents a significant moment in the evolution of Soviet youth literature. Written by Vladimir Pavlovich Belyaev, this historical adventure novel became one of the most beloved works for generations of readers. Set in the city of Kamenets-Podolsky during the turbulent years of the Russian Civil War in Ukraine, the story follows a group of teenagers—Vasilko, Yuzek, and Petro—as they grow up amidst the shifting front lines of Red, White, and nationalist forces.
The 1939 version is particularly notable as the second, revised edition. Belyaev significantly reworked the text to deepen the character development and align the narrative with the rigorous ideological and artistic standards of the late 1930s. The "Old Fortress" of the title—a real medieval fortification—serves as both a literal setting and a powerful symbol of endurance and the revolutionary spirit.
The book is physically distinguished by its artistic hardcover binding and illustrations designed by L. Volshteyn. His dynamic, high-contrast drawings perfectly capture the tension of clandestine meetings, the chaos of urban warfare, and the romanticism of the young heroes' dedication to the Soviet cause. The enlarged format and the inclusion of a special inserted illustration plate mark this as a high-quality production from Detizdat, the publishing house of the Komsomol Central Committee.
For collectors of Soviet-era children's classics, bibliophiles, and historians of 20th-century Russian literature, this pre-war edition is a prized acquisition. It captures the heroic atmosphere of an era and remains a foundational text in the genre of the Soviet "coming-of-age" revolutionary novel.