"THE DECLINE OF RUSSIAN MILITARY GLORY WAS EVIDENT…": FIRST EDITION OF MARX'S THE EASTERN QUESTION, 1897

MARX, Karl. The Eastern Question. A Reprint of Letters Written 1853-56 Dealing with the Events of the Crimean War. London: Swan Sonnenschein, 1897. Thick octavo, original purple-brown cloth. $1500.

First edition of this collection of Marx letters related to the Crimean War, published posthumously by Marx's daughter, with two folding color maps of the Balkan Peninsula, both during the Crimean War and decades later upon the publication of this book.

The "Eastern Question" refers to the colonialist struggle for influence following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The question arose repeatedly—not just during the Crimean War, but also during Balkan conflicts of the early 20th century. These letters originally appeared in the New York Tribune, though many of them were written as correspondence by Marx rather than as articles for publication. Notably, these letters are highly critical of Russia, both its tendency toward "aggrandizement" and its lack of discipline. Free endpapers excised. Owner signature on title page.

A few minor tears, expert repairs, and light edgewear to folding maps; only minor foxing to preliminary and concluding pages. Text block and inner hinges expertly repaired, light wear to cloth, mild toning to spine. An extremely good copy.