82/ 382 Sauting, I.V. and Ivanitsky, I.P. (ed.). USSR, The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. An Album illustrating the State Organisation and National Economy of the USSR. Moscow, Scientific Publishing Institute of Pictorial Statistics, 1939, 140,(9)p., illustrated throughout with photogr. ills., col. pictorial charts and (woodengr.) ills., original limp red cl., obl. folio.

- Somewhat yellowed as usual; corners sl. bumped; last few lvs. w. vague waterstain in blank margins.

= Karasik p.258ff; Lissitzky-Küppers p.97; cf. Bool/ Broos p.53f. The album, produced for distribution at the New York World Fair, was designed by El Lissitzky, together with A.S. Grigorevich and M.V. Nikola, and was one of Lissitzkys last projects. It consists of 4 sections: State Organization of the USSR, Economic Construction (...), Welfare and Culture (...) and Position of Women (...). The Institute of Pictorial Statistics was founded in 1931, based upon the principles of the 'Vienna method' of isotypes, as developed by Dr. Otto Neurath in collaboration with Gerd Artnz. Arntz visited the Soviet Union regularly from 1931 onward, and was i.a. instrumental in educating the designers, linocutters, and statisticians working at the new institute. During those travels he also met with Lissitzky and Tatlin. "This book of statistics is got up like a real work of art, or at least an entertaining table game (...). The book features a variety of materials, printing techniques and types of visual aid: charts, diagrams, geographical maps, wood engravings, photographs, bas-reliefs, different typefaces (...)" (Karasik p.258).