CHICHERIN A.N. (1889-1960), AUTOGRAPH TO VASILY KAMENSKY Mena vsekh: Konstruktivisty poety / K. Zelinsky, A. Chicherin, E.-K. Selvinsky. [Constructivist Poets] / K. Zelinsky, A. Chicherin, E.-K. Selvinsky. Moscow.: Shkola FZU Gosizdata 1-y Obraztsovoy tip., 1924.

83, [1] pp.: ill., port.; 24×18 cm. Edition of 1500 copies, including 50 numbered copies. Copy belonging to V.V. Kamensky. Signed by A.N. Chicherin: “2/III-31, Moscow.” Book design by A.N. Chicherin. In a later cartonnage binding. Fragments of the publisher’s constructivist cover by N.N. Kupreyanov mounted onto the boards. In good condition. Minor stains and soiling on the cover and first pages of the text block. Constructivism in poetry was proclaimed as an independent movement in 1923 by K.L. Zelinsky, I.L. Selvinsky, and A.N. Chicherin. At the beginning of the book, the declaration "Znaem (Klyatvennaya konstruktsiya konstruktivistov-poetov)(The Oath Construct of Constructivist Poets)" was published, setting out the aesthetic principles of the group: “Constructivism is the centripetal hierarchical distribution of material, accentuated (focused) at a predetermined point in the construction.” This proclaimed a shift away from the intuitive search for artistic expression in favor of the "construction" of poetic material. The title Mena vsekh was created by rearranging the letters of Smena vekh (Change of Landmarks), a book published by Russian émigrés, as a deliberate counterpoint to their ideological stance. Alexey Nikolaevich Chicherin (1889-1960) – Russian Futurist and Constructivist poet, "book constructor," and art theorist. Vasily Vasilyevich Kamensky (1884-1961) – Russian Futurist poet, prose writer, artist, and one of Russia’s first aviators. Member of the Union of Chairmen of the Globe. Bibliography: Rozanov No. 4876; Lesman No. 1528.