Lot 15 – ‘Bildnisse viler zum theyle von vralten …’ by M. Beuther, parchment binding, 1579. Anticvarium image
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Slavic-Russian books and manuscripts of the 16th and 17th centuries include Lenten Triodion (Contribution book of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich) (1630) and a Patrimonial patent certificate (Votchinnaya zhalovannaya gramota) of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1668-1670). Moscovia by Antonio Possevini (1587) and Bildnisse viler zum theyle von vralten, zum theyle von Newlichern zeiten her… by M. Beuther – are the earliest titles in the catalog.
Publications related to Peter I, as well as books printed in his epoch, present special interest for collectors. The jewel of this collection is Introduction to European History by Samuel von Pufendorf (1718) in excellent condition. One of the most notable books related to the great Tsar and reformer is Discourse concerning the causes of the war between Sweden and Russia written on Peter’s behalf by P.P. Shafirov (1722). The letters of Peter the Great written to … Сount B.P. Sheremetev… (1774) – with an excellent image of emperor on the frontispiece by famous Russian engraver Argunov – is another excellent example of fine Russian typography and a monument to Peter the Great’s era.
Later editions are no less important for understanding of this time. History of Peter the Great by V. Bergman in six volumes (1833), Acts of Peter the Great by I.I. Goligov in 15 volumes (1837-1843) is one of the most important sources for researches on the history of Russia of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, as well as History of the reign of Peter the Great by N. Ustryalov in six volumes with two atlases (1858-1863).
Successors of Peter the Great are also immortalized in splendid works of book art. The description of the coronation of her Majesty and the autocratic Empress of all Russia Anna Ioannovna and A thorough description of the solemn orders of coronation autocratic Empress of all Russia Elizaveta Petrovna are classic bibliophilic rarities offered in the auction.
The section “Ukrainian olden time” offers lots of rare books in fine condition. Among them Virgil’s Aeneid: in Little Russian by I. Kotlyarevsky (1842), Little Russian and Red Ruthenia folk ballads and songs by P. Lukaschevich (1836), Charms or several Ukrainian scenes from folk tales and stories by K. Topolinsky (1837), and Lily-of-the-valleys of Kiev Ukraine by G. Karpenko.
The collection of rare masonic books of the late 18th to early 20th centuries occupies a special place. Among them there is survived copy of program The spirit of Freemasonry by W. Hutchinson (1783), which was printed in Novikov’s typography and then was confiscated and destroyed by order of Catherine II in 1793. Interesting to bibliophiles are the illustrated editions Some features of the internal church, and about a common path of truth by I. Lopuhin (1816), and the small masonic edition Table of the Grand Lodge Astrea, intended “only for visitors and brothers” lodges, which existed in St. Petersburg from 1815 until the ban on Freemasonry in 1822.
Traditional for the auction house are anticvarium sections of geography, natural science and albums, include very interesting editions. Among luxuriously published albums are Memories of St. Petersburg by A. Plushar (1824), Travel to England and Russia in 1821, 1822 and 1823 by E. Montule (1825) and Russian Imperial Army uniforms by D. Monten and G. Ekkert (1840). There are some editions devoted to the southern regions including a rare atlas for Sumarokov’s writing Leisure of Crimean judge, album Costumes Ruthenians, atlas A collection of maps and drawings to the ‘Research on the antiquities of southern Russia and the Black Sea‘ by Count A. Uvarov.
Classic Russian literature is presented in collectible copies of lifetime editions of Kapnist, Batushkov, Bulgarin, Dostoevsky, Pisemsky and Saltykov-Shchedrin. For those who interested in the autographs, the auction we offer two poetic collections of Great Prince Konstantin Konstantinovich (K.R.), which were published in 1889, with his own inscriptions to Foreign Minister N. Shishkin, and a 1900 autographed photograph of prima ballerina M. Kshesinskaia.
For classic gentleman’s interests – yachts, horses, cars – are the books Guide for sailing enthusiasts (1895), Stable vices and bad habits of the horse (1913) and Catechism of the motorist: 368 questions and answers on the device, care, maintenance, adjustment, assembly and disassembly of cars (1929).
A section on graphics includes sheets from the album Scenes of Russian folk life by I.S. Schedrovsky (1855), Landscape painting by J. Tcherkesov and G. Lapshin, the Paris pastel of S. Fotinsky and two lithographs of Marc Chagall from series Through the Looking-Glass (1964).
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ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Lot 15 – ‘Bildnisse viler zum theyle von vralten …’ by M. Beuther, parchment binding, 1579. Anticvarium image Lot 32 – The Letters of Peter the Great, Moscow, 1774. Engraved frontispiece (portrait). Possessory cardboard binding. Text in Russian. Anticvarium image Lot 8 – ‘A thorough description of the solemn orders of coronation autocratic Empress of all Russia Elizaveta Petrovna,’ St. Petersburg, 1744. Half leather binding. Engraved title page. Text in Russian. Anticvarium image Lot 64 – Small masonic edition, ‘Table of the Grand Lodge Astrea,’ which existed in St. Petersburg from 1815 to 1822. Text in French, Deutch and Russian. Anticvarium image Lot 187 – ‘Memories of St. Petersburg’ by A. Plushar, 1824. Anticvarium image Lot 266 – Russian prima ballerina Mathilde Kshesinskaia photo with autograph, 1900. Anticvarium image
