Travels & History: Caucasus and Central Asia

Image for LEVCHINE, A. Description des hordes..., Première édition en français, Paris, 1840. #2

By the "Herodot of Kazakh steppes"

LEVCHINE, Alexis de [Aleksei Iraklevich LEVSHIN, also LIOVSHIN]

Description des hordes et des steppes des Kirghiz-Kazaks ou Kirghiz-Kaïssaks

£2,250

LEVCHINE, Alexis de [Aleksei Iraklevich LEVSHIN, also LIOVSHIN], Description des hordes et des steppes des Kirghiz-Kazaks ou Kirghiz-Kaïssaks

The first extensive study of the people of Kazakhstan: first French edition, with the same illustrations as the original Russian edition; including a folding map of the area, which was very rare at the time.

Image for TILLO, A. Opisanie Aralo-Kaspiiskoi nivellirovki. First edition, Skt. Peterburg, 1877 #2

Which one is higher?

TILLO, Aleksei

Opisanie Aralo-Kaspiiskoi nivellirovki proizvedennoi v 1874 godu [Description of the Aral-Caspian Levelling Conducted in 1874]

£1,950

TILLO, Aleksei, Opisanie Aralo-Kaspiiskoi nivellirovki proizvedennoi v 1874 godu

Scarce scientific work with detailed maps of the area between the two seas, now in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Image for BOGOLIUBOV, A. Tapis de l'Asie Centrale. Saint-Petersbourg, 1908. #2

Impressive large-format carpets

BOGOLIUBOV – BOGOLUBOW, Andrei

Kovrovyia izdeliia Srednei Azii. Tapisseries de l'Asie Centrale

£2,950

BOGOLIUBOV - BOGOLUBOW, Andrei, Kovrovyia izdeliia Srednei Azii. Tapisseries de l'Asie Centrale

The first systematic study of the rugs of Central Asia in a very large, impressive format. A beautiful production of the Russian State Press, here in a full red leather binding.

Image for Watercolour portrait of Hadji Murat. Tbilisi, 1852. #1

Contemporary portrait

French school of the 19^th century

Portrait de Hadji Mourad

£4,750

French school of the 19^th century, Portrait de Hadji Mourad

Extremely rare contemporary portrait of a famous Caucasian rebel - described by Gagarin and Tolstoy.

Image for FORBIN, A. Voyage dans le Levant. Paris, 1819. #2

Famous account of the Middle East

FORBIN, Auguste, comte de

Voyage dans le Levant en 1817 et 1818

£295

FORBIN, Auguste, comte de, Voyage dans le Levant en 1817 et 1818

Forbin's text volumes describing his celebrated travel to the Middle East; in very good condition.

Image for Pushkin through the Caucasus, one of 50 copies, by Serge Lifar #1

Svetlov-Fekula copy - one of 50 only

PUSHKIN, Aleksandr Sergeevich, Sergey LIFAR and Prof. M. L. GOFMAN (editors)

Puteshestvie v Arzrum vo vremia pokhoda 1829 goda [Journey to Arzrum during the campaign of 1829]

£2,950

PUSHKIN, Aleksandr Sergeevich, Sergey LIFAR and Prof. M. L. GOFMAN (editors), Puteshestvie v Arzrum vo vremia pokhoda 1829 goda

Pushkin's best travel account in a fine bibliophilic edition, one of 50 'ad nominem' copies only, this one for Valerian Svetlov.

Image for Pushkin through the Caucasus, fine edition by Serge Lifar #1

Pushkin escapes the Tsar's police

PUSHKIN, Aleksandr and Sergey LIFAR (editor)

Puteshestvie v Arzrum vo vremia pokhoda 1829 goda [A Journey to Arzrum during the campaign of 1829]

£495

PUSHKIN, Aleksandr and Sergey LIFAR (editor), Puteshestvie v Arzrum vo vremia pokhoda 1829 goda

Pushkin's best travel account in a fine bibliophilic edition, with the first publication of his draft.

Image for Geier, Tashkent to Gava, Russian Central Asia, first edition, inscribed #1

The Great Game and Central Asian walnuts

GEIER, Ivan Ivanovich

Ot Tashkenta do Gavy [From Tashkent to Gava]

£1,950

GEIER, Ivan Ivanovich, Ot Tashkenta do Gavy

A lovely association copy, inscribed by the author to an important Russain official in Turkestan, of a very rare travel account in the heart of Russian Central Asia. An early Uzbek publication containing fascinating details on the economy of the region, especially in the Fergana valley in the Arslanbob mountains, famous for its important walnut forest.

Image for GAGARINE, Prince Grégoire. Dessins et croquis d'après nature. St. Petersbourg, 1902. First edition. #2

An aristocrat, traveller and diplomat, with artistic talents

GAGARINE, Prince Grégoire – Kniaz Grigorii Grigorevich GAGARIN

Dessins et croquis d'après nature. Risunki i nabroski s natury

£4,500

GAGARINE, Prince Grégoire - Kniaz Grigorii Grigorevich GAGARIN, Dessins et croquis d'après nature. Risunki i nabroski s natury

Gagarin's artistic record of Turkish and Caucasian types, among other sketches reproduced, including portraits of Russian aristocrats in the Caucasus, Gypsies in Moscow and views of Egypt and Greece. A beautiful, large format production of one of the best Russian presses of the time. A fine example with contemporary provenance.

Image for Chev. J-F de GAMBA. Voyage dans la Russie méridionale. Paris, 1826. First edition. #2

One of the most famous views of Tbilisi

GAMBA, Jacques Francois, Chevalier de

Voyage dans la Russie méridionale, et particulièrement dans les provinces situées au-delà du Caucase, fait depuis 1820 jusqu'en 1824

£9,500

GAMBA, Jacques Francois, Chevalier de, Voyage dans la Russie méridionale, et particulièrement dans les provinces situées au-delà du Caucase, fait depuis 1820 jusqu'en 1824

One of the most famous books on the Caucasus, and Georgia in particular; the first significant work on the region; the first large lithographic view of Tbilisi; with hand-coloured costume plates. A lovely, complete example of the first edition, in contemporary publisher's binding.

Image for KALINOVSKII, Les chasses au Caucase. Okhoty Kavkaza. First edition, St. Petersbourg, 1900. With 100 plates. #2

Abundant imperial hunting parties in the Mountains

KALINOVSKII, A

Les chasses au Caucase. Okhoty Kavkaza

£6,500

KALINOVSKII, A, Les chasses au Caucase. Okhoty Kavkaza

First edition of this impressive visual record of imperial hunting parties in the Caucasus - one of the greatest Russian hunting books, in French and Russian, conceived and produced specifically to promote the Caucasian region at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1900. With 100 leaves of illustrations. A good example in the publisher's binding.

Image for KRAFFT, H. A Travers le Turkestan russe. First edition, Paris, 1902. #2

Out of stock

SOLD

Central Asia in beautifully subtle tones

KRAFFT, Hugues

A Travers le Turkestan Russe

KRAFFT, Hugues, A Travers le Turkestan Russe

Remarkable photographic record of nowadays Uzbekistan and neighbouring regions - a beautiful, luxury production, and a fine example, inscribed by the photographer and author.

Image for Treaty of Commerce between Russia and Turkey, 1783 #1

Out of stock

SOLD

Catherine the Great's business in the Black Sea and the Caucasus

Traktat o torgovle mezhdu rossiiskoiu imperieiu i portoiu ottomanskoiu [Treaty of Commerce between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Porte]

, Traktat o torgovle mezhdu rossiiskoiu imperieiu i portoiu ottomanskoiu

Uncommon treatise between Catherine's Russia and the Ottoman Empire, and inbetween two Russo-Turkish wars of the 18th century.

Image for EFREMOV. Desiatiletnee stranstvovanie i priklucheni... First edition, 1786. #1

Out of stock

SOLD

Small but packed with fascinating content

EFREMOV, Filipp

Desiatiletnee stranstvovanie i prikluchenie v Bukharii, Khive, Persii i Indii, i vozvrashchenie ottuda cherez Angliu v Rossiu [Ten Years of Wanderings and Adventures in Bukhara, Khiva, Persia and India, and the return journey from there through England to Russia]

EFREMOV, Filipp, Desiatiletnee stranstvovanie i prikluchenie v Bukharii, Khive, Persii i Indii, i vozvrashchenie ottuda cherez Angliu v Rossiu

Very rare fiist editoion of this travel to areas "almost completely closed to Europeans" (Vigasin): the first significant Russian publication on Central Asia, "the first geographic exploration of Uzbekistan" (Lebedev) with a detailed description of silk production, and most probably the first printed Russian-Persian vocabulary.

Image for BERNOVILLE, R. La Souanétie libre. Paris, 1875. First edition, in wrappers. #1

Out of stock

SOLD

Such a beautiful region...but "savage"?

Raphael BERNOVILLE

La Souanetie libre. Episode d'un voyage a la chaine centrale du Caucase

Raphael BERNOVILLE, La Souanetie libre. Episode d'un voyage a la chaine centrale du Caucase

Attractive and uncommon account of southern Caucasus, illustrated with large plates and missing in the usual bibliographies. First edition; a pleasant example in the original printed wrappers.

Image for VERESHCHAGIN, Turkestan, a complete, signed copy of the first edition, St. Petersburg, 1874. #1

Out of stock

SOLD

Presentation copy

VERESHCHAGIN, Vasilii

Turkestan: etiudy s natury - Etudes d'après nature - Studien nach der Natur

VERESHCHAGIN, Vasilii, Turkestan: etiudy s natury - Etudes d'après nature - Studien nach der Natur

One of the best Russian war artists in Central Asia: a fine example, signed by Vereshchagin and attractively bound, of this rich visual record of nowadays Uzbekistan and the surrounding regions at the height of the Great Game. Uncommon.

Image for Travels to the Tatars and other Eastern peoples, first edition, 1825 #1

Out of stock

SOLD

Looking at the past at the start of the Great Game

IAZYKOV, Dmitrii Ivanovich (editor and translator)

Sobranie puteshestvii k tataram i drugim vostochnim narodam, v XIII, XIV i XV stoletiakh [Collection of Travels to the Tartars and Other Eastern Peoples in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries]

IAZYKOV, Dmitrii Ivanovich (editor and translator), Sobranie puteshestvii k tataram i drugim vostochnim narodam, v XIII, XIV i XV stoletiakh

A witness of the Russian interest in the eastern parts of its empire and its neighbours. Includes Carpini's 13th-c. travel account, thought to be the earliest significant Western description of Northern and Central Asia, Rus, and the regions of the Mongol dominion. A fresh example of the rare first edition.

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