Nizami Ganjavi. Khosrow and Shirin (Khosrov i Shirin), 1955. In Russian

Низами Гянджеви. Хосров и Ширин. / Пер. К. Липскерова; ред. А. В. Старостина; примеч. Е. Э. Бертельса.
Баку : Издательство Академии наук Азербайджанской ССР, 1955.
496 с. : ил. Твёрдый издательский переплёт с барельефным тиснением, обычный формат.
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Nizami Ganjavi. Khosrow and Shirin (Khosrov i Shirin). / Translated by K. Lipskerov; edited by A. V. Starostin; notes by E. E. Bertels.
Baku : Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR, 1955.
496 pp. : ill. Publisher’s hardcover with embossed bas-reliefs, standard format.

This 1955 edition is a magnificent example of post-war Soviet book arts, published by the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR to celebrate the heritage of the great Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi (c. 1141–1209). As one of the five poems in Nizami's Khamsa (Quintet), Khosrow and Shirin is a masterpiece of world literature—a tragic and lyrical romance detailing the love between the Sasanian King Khosrow II and the Armenian princess Shirin.
The translation by Konstantin Lipskerov is widely regarded as one of the most poetic and faithful renderings into Russian, capturing the intricate metaphors and rhythmic elegance of the original 12th-century verse. The scholarly apparatus is equally impressive, featuring extensive notes and commentary by Evgeny Bertels, the preeminent Soviet Orientalist and expert on Persian literature, ensuring that the historical and philosophical nuances are accessible to the reader.
The aesthetic presentation of this 1955 Baku edition is particularly noteworthy. Designed as a luxury gift volume, the hardcover features elaborate bas-relief embossing with a lush floral motif characteristic of Azerbaijani ornamental art. The interior is equally rich, containing vibrant full-page color illustrations by Leonid Feinberg, whose style blends modern graphic sensibilities with the tradition of Persian miniatures. The text is framed by delicate ornamental headpieces and colophons, making the act of reading a visually immersive experience.
For collectors of Oriental literature, enthusiasts of fine bookbinding, and historians of Soviet-era academic publishing, this volume is a prized acquisition. It represents the height of the mid-century effort to popularize the classics of the Near East in high-quality, scientifically-backed editions. This copy, with its distinctively tactile cover and preserved illustrations, remains a cornerstone for any library of world poetry.