David of Sasun: Armenian National Epic (David Sasunskiy: Armyanskiy narodnyy epos), 1939. In Russian

Давид Сасунский: Армянский народный эпос. / Под общ. ред. и с пред. акад. И. Орбели; пер. В. Державина, А. Кочеткова, К. Липскерова, С. Шервинского; ил. А. Мамаджаняна; оформл. Тарагроса.
Ереван: Армгиз, 1939.
388 с. : ил. Издательский иллюстрированный переплёт, увеличенный формат 26,7×17,7 см.
***
David of Sasun: Armenian National Epic (David Sasunskiy: Armyanskiy narodnyy epos). / Edited with a preface by Academician I. Orbeli; trans. by V. Derzhavin, A. Kochetkov, K. Lipskerov, S. Shervinsky; illus. by A. Mamajanyan; design by Taragros.
Yerevan: Armgiz, 1939.
388 pp.: ill. Original publisher’s illustrated binding, enlarged format 26.7×17.7 cm.

This 1939 edition of "David of Sasun" is a landmark of Armenian cultural history, published to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the national epic. Released by Armgiz in Yerevan under the scholarly guidance of Academician Iosif Orbeli, this volume represents the definitive "composite text" (svodnyy tekst) compiled by the eminent linguist Manuk Abeghyan, which unified various oral traditions into a coherent literary masterpiece.
The epic is divided into four chronological cycles, or "branches": the foundation by Sanasar and Baghdasar, the exploits of Mher the Elder, the central heroic deeds of David of Sasun against the Arab Caliphate, and the tragic immortality of Mher the Younger. The Russian translation was undertaken by a "brilliant cohort" of Soviet poets and translators, including Sergey Shervinsky and Konstantin Lipskerov, who managed to preserve the rhythmic vitality and archaic grandeur of the original Armenian verse.
Visually, the book is a masterpiece of Armenian book art. The illustrations by Ashot Mamajanyan and the ornamental design by Taragros (Ter-Vartanyan) draw deeply from medieval Armenian miniatures and stone carvings (khachkars). The intricate borders, initial letters, and full-page plates create a visual dialogue between ancient folklore and modern graphic precision.
As a jubilee edition produced on the eve of World War II, this book is a significant bibliographical rarity. It stands as a monument to the resilience of Armenian identity and is a prized centerpiece for any collection of world epics, ethnographic literature, or Caucasian art.