Alexander II Personally Owned Finely Bound News Journals From the Imperial Hermitage & The Gatchina Palace Library.

L'Illustration. Journal Universel. Paris. A.Le Chavalier Et Editors. A bound set of lavishly illustrated weekly news Journals for dates of January- December of 1852. 14.75" tall by 10.75" wide. Written in the World language of the period, French. Condition report and provenance below.

This outstanding book is a bound set of Journal Issues representing the weekly world news from politics to the arts and science (with emphasis around Europe and Russia) and was personally owned by Alexander II. The book includes his personal bookplate to the front end paper, and his circular black stamps on the Title page for each of the weekly editions. Perhaps the stamps were placed by Alexander II to discern which news weeks he had just completed reading. The book also has the bookplate of the Imperial Hermitage (the home of the Tsars before moving to Gatchina), and also bears the striking RUSSIAN IMPERIAL LIBRARY STAMP for the Gatchina Palace in Cyrillic text located on the front end paper. The Gatchina Palace was a favorite residence of the Imperial family after it had been enlarged substantially by Alexander II's father Nicholas I. An image of his bookplate and the Imperial Hermitage bookplate appear in our photos for the listing, along with Alexanders personal black stamps.

Provenance: Alexandre II of Russia (1818-1881), Russian Imperial Library at The Imperial Hermitage later moved to The Gatchina Palace. Ex. Christies with the original Christies tag included.

Condition: Worn and rubbed decorative paper boards with a brown quarter leather spine with gilt titles, and leather corner tips. The leather is rubbed and worn. The spine cloth is separated and partially detached. The front board is mostly detached. Original end papers present. The bookplates of Alexander II and the bookplate of the Imperial Hermitage are both present and in excellent condition. The book is internally clean throughout with Alexander II's black stamps, and the Russian Imperial Library Stamp all present and in wonderful condition. 

Alexandre II of Russia (1818-1881)

Encouraged by public opinion, Alexander began a period of radical reforms, including an attempt not to depend on landed aristocracy controlling the poor, an effort to develop Russia's natural resources, and to reform all branches of the administration. Alexander II's most significant reform as emperor was emancipation of Russia's serfs in 1861, for which he is known as Alexander the Liberator. Serfs gained the full rights of free citizens, including rights to marry without having to gain consent, to own property and to own a business. The measure was the first and most important of the liberal reforms made by Alexander II. The tsar was responsible for other reforms, including reorganizing the judicial system, setting up elected local judges, abolishing corporal punishment, promoting local self-government through the zemstvo system, imposing universal military service, ending some privileges of the nobility, and promoting university education.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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