Zhitkov, B. S. Steamboat (Parokhod), 1936. In Russian

Житков Б. С. Пароход. / Рис. В. Голицына.
Москва — Ленинград : Детиздат, 1936.
96 с. : ил. Твёрдый издательский переплёт, увеличенный формат. 2-е прижизненное издание.
***
Zhitkov, B. S. Steamboat (Parokhod). / Illustrations by V. Golitsyn.
Moscow — Leningrad: Detizdat, 1936.
96 pp. : ill. Publisher’s hardcover, enlarged format. 2nd lifetime edition.

This 1936 volume is a remarkable example of Soviet "technical" children's literature, representing the second lifetime edition of Boris Zhitkov’s celebrated work. Boris Zhitkov (1882–1938) was not merely a writer but a professional navigator and engineer; his maritime stories are distinguished by an extraordinary level of technical accuracy paired with a deep, humanistic understanding of the sea.
In "Steamboat," Zhitkov guides the young reader through the complex internal world of a sea-going vessel. Drawing on his years as a ship's captain, he explains the mechanics of steam engines, the duties of the crew, and the physics of buoyancy in a language that is both accessible and intellectually stimulating. The book serves as a narrative voyage, where the "character" of the ship itself is as vital as the sailors who man it.
The visual appeal of this edition is defined by the illustrations of Vladimir Golitsyn (1901–1943). A sailor and researcher himself, Golitsyn was a master of maritime art. His drawings in this 1936 edition are famous for their dynamic perspective and meticulous attention to nautical detail—from the rigging of the masts to the specific layout of the engine room. These illustrations do not just decorate the text; they function as a visual encyclopedia of 1930s naval technology.
Published by Detizdat during the golden age of Soviet children's book design, this enlarged format edition is a prized rarity for collectors. As a lifetime edition of one of Zhitkov's most beloved educational works, it remains a testament to a period when children's literature aimed to inspire a new generation of engineers and explorers.