The Phenomenon of V.Z. Yaksanov: the Book Publishing Experience of a Private Entrepreneur of Saratov Province (1918—1927)

Abstract

In the history of book publishing in the Saratov region, the name of Vasily Zakharovich Yaksanov (1887—1935) holds a special place. He was one of the first to combine the functions of author, publisher and printer, playing the role of a link between pre-revolutionary and Soviet book publishing. The printing house he opened in 1910 was nationalized in 1919. In 1922 V.Z. Yaksanov founded a private book publishing house, which produced books until 1925, and in the first Soviet decade was the owner of the bookstores “Druker” and “Virgin Soil”, which also acted as publishing organisations. The range of products of his publishing house included books of scientific, popular science, educational, artistic, information and reference nature. V.Z.Yaksanov paid special attention to supporting the scientific activities of teachers of the Imperial Nikolaev University (since 1923 — the N.G. Chernyshevsky Saratov State University), as well as children’s literature. Being a prominent figure of the Old Believer Church, at the same time he printed materials devoted to the history of the Old Orthodox Pomor Church. Due to the fact that not many studies have been written about V.Z. Yaksanov’s contribution to regional book publishing, it seems important to analyze the factography of V.Z. Yaksanov’s book publishing activities in the first Soviet decade, to clarify the information about the books and brochures that his printing house and publishing house were involved in publishing. If we summarize V.Z. Yaksanov’s competences as a printer, publisher and owner of a bookshop (which is a publishing organisation), we can talk about 38 identified titles of books and pamphlets published with his direct participation and at his enterprise in the period from 1918 to 1927. In 1918 6 titles were identified, in 1922 — 3, in 1923 — 17, in 1924 — 7, in 1925 — 4, in 1927 — 1).