Sannikov Land, Vladimir Obruchev, Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow, 1955

Sannikov Land is a Soviet-era science fiction and adventure novel by Vladimir Obruchev, translated into English by David Skvirsky and published by the Foreign Languages Publishing House in Moscow during the 1950s. Inspired by the real-life legend of a phantom Arctic island reported by 19th-century explorers Yakov Sannikov and Eduard von Toll, the novel imagines a hidden land warmed by geothermal activity and populated by prehistoric animals, Neanderthal-like inhabitants (called the “Vampoo”), and dense vegetation. The expedition’s discovery of the island and its eventual destruction by volcanic eruption form the core of the narrative, blending speculative fiction with scientific plausibility.

Vladimir Afanasyevich Obruchev (1863–1956) was a renowned Russian geologist, explorer, and science writer. After graduating from the Petersburg Mining Institute in 1886, he led major geological expeditions across Siberia and Central Asia. His contributions included key studies in permafrost, gold deposits, and loess soils. Elected to the Soviet Academy of Sciences in 1929, Obruchev directed several major scientific institutions and authored over a thousand works. Though best known for his geological research, he also wrote popular science books and science fiction novels that aimed to popularise scientific ideas through engaging storytelling.

Sannnikov Land, by Vladimir Obruchev.Translated from the Russian by David Skvirsky. Illustrated and Designed by Y. Krasny.

Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow, 1955 (although the dated is not stated with publishing information, the afterword at the rear is dated to 1955. First edition thus. Noted at the front of the book as being 'Soviet Literature for Young People'. 'Printed in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics'. The book was first published in Russian in 1926 under the title Земля Санникова, или Последние онкилоны.

A good (plus) mustard cloth hardback with attractive printed cover design and printed titles to spine. Mild bumping. Just a little give in the spine, but all still soundly bound. With good original Publisher's dustjacket. Worn, nibbled and frayed to extremities, with scratches and scores. Now housed in a clear protective, removable, plastic sleeve.

Some offset spotting to blank endpapers, but otherwise the text block in itself is bright and clean throughout. First blank endpaper and rear pastedown have a 3 digit number written in ink to them. Some light spotting to vertical edge of text block. Top edge is yellow, although colour is now faded. Worn top corner of text block. An interesting Soviet curio and uncommon as an English language first edition.

Text in English.

371pp.

Dimensions: approximately 205mm tall x 139mm wide x 24mm deep.

Weight: approximately 437g (unpacked).