This outstanding photo book was designed by the husband and wife team of constructivist artists Alexander Rodchenko and Varvara Stepanova as a Stalinist propaganda piece showing off the power and might of Soviet aviation for the New York World's Fair of 1939. This very important and dynamic book shows the aeroplane as a symbol of progress and power in the service of the communist state. Using photomontage, avant-garde graphic design and modernist photography, Rodchenko and Stepanova produced an amazing propaganda book the captures the sense of progress and power that Stalin wanted to convey to the outside world on the verge of World War 2. The gravure technique already allowed photographs to be reproduced with maximum expressiveness and richness. The format of the book, the choice of images and the dynamism of the photomontages by Rodchenko and Stepanova end up reinforcing the sensations that flying produces. All pages have a different geometric composition. A poetic history book, still capable of presenting the airplane as it has never been done since, as a wonderful machine of progress. Published by Lampreave in 2009, this new edition reproduces the original edition and its technical particularities in size and finishes. Two profusely illustrated bilingual texts: one by Alexander Lavrentiev, grandson of the authors, telling the story of the book, and another by Ángel González García “The Revolution is in the air” provide context and analysis of this very impressive book. This edition received the 2010 PhotoEspaña award for the best photography book of the year. This large and impressive photobook is an excellent example of what happens when art and politics collide in a totalitarian regime. The original edition of Soviet Aviation is listed in Mikhail Karasik , The Soviet Photo Book 1920-1941 , p. 470-473 Condition: Very good condition. Inside tight and clean. Comes with original acetate dust jacket. Tiny bumps to end of spine and corner - does not affect pages. Please examine photos carefully.