ЛЕФ (LEF), No. 3, June–July 1923. Moscow: LEF Publishing House, 1923.

LEF [ЛЕФ: Левый фронт искусств / Left Front of the Arts], No. 3, June–July 1923. Moscow: Izdatel’stvo LEF, 1923.

23.4 × 16 cm. 8vo. 186 [6] pp. Original illustrated wrappers with the famous Constructivist cover designed by Alexander Rodchenko, printed in orange and blue.

The third issue of LEF, the highly influential journal of the Soviet avant-garde founded and edited by Vladimir Mayakovsky. LEF brought together leading figures of Russian Futurism and Constructivism and served as an important forum for revolutionary literature, visual art, photography, cinema, typography, and theories of artistic production.

Rodchenko's celebrated cover is a particularly striking example of early Soviet Constructivist graphic design, combining monumental geometric lettering with dynamic imagery. Publisher's LEF device to rear wrapper.

Good condition. Open fore-edge of front wrapper reinforced with Japan paper. Spine reglued, with minute loss at head and foot. General light wear and soiling to wrappers. Protected in Mylar.