Some of the first systematic ethnographic observations of peoples of Russia, here focusing on Siberian and Far Eastern peoples. An edition rarely found, with plates and a map. Lovely copy in fine condition.
Some great imagery in a rare volume of 85 plates - mostly military but only, with many themes strikingly depicted. A rare item of Russian folk art, here in fine condition.
Lovely, crisp copy of this classic work on Russian trade, esp. interesting for its description of the North Pacific and Alaska - but also of the Black Sea and Ukraine. With German royal provenance.
A lovely manuscript booklet finely bound, showing all important events of Russia's history up to 1784 - very unusual, attractive and informative, possibly connected to Tsar Nicholas I.
MONTESKE [MONTESQUIEU, Charles Louis de]
Pisma persidskiia [Lettres persanes] [Persian Letters]
Rare first illustrated edition of the 'Lettres persanes' in Russian, in contemporary binding with lovely Russian endpapers.
Instruction [...] pour la commission chargee de dresser le projet d'un nouveau code de loix.
Instruction fúr die zu Verfertigung des Entwurfs zu einem neuen Gesetz-Buche verordnete Commission.
Instrvctio [...] coetvi convocato ad conficiendam ideam novi legvm codicis
A lovely example of this famous edition of Catherine's celebrated Great Instructions, much inspired by important European philosophers of the Englightenment.
FIDLER, Konstantin [also FIEDLER]
Slovo pokhvalnoe velikomu gosudariu Borisu Fedorovichu Godunovu [Eulogy to the Great Tsar Boris Fedorovich Godunov]
Very rare first edition in Russian of this praise of Boris Godunov, with great and unusual provenance: possibly Catherine the Great and then Smirdin's famous lending library. A lovely example.
A complete example of this impressive photographic survey of the Kremlin and its fantastic museums.
A thick and uncommon dictionary explaning in German and French the Russian language used during Catherine the Great. A very good copy in contemporary binding.
Scarce architectural work by one of the leading architects of the Russian empire under Tsar Paul 1st, and responsible for some of the most famous buildings in St. Petersburg and Odessa.
KAMPE [CAMPE, Joachim Heinrich; and Aleksandr Semenovich SHISHKOV, translator]
Detskaia biblioteka.. [Children's library [ie. Kleine Kinderbibliothek]...]
More than a translation, an original adaptation, dedicated to Princess Dahskova, the first woman head of an Academy of Sciences and first female member of the American Philosophical Society. A very rare early edition of this important book for Russian children - and a lovely example with a sewn translation label!
![Image for Ch. PEYSSONEL. Verfassung des Handels auf dem Schwarzem Meer [Black Sea trade]. First German edition, Leipzig, 1788. #3](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2847_1-300x400.jpeg)
PEYSSONEL, Charles de, and Ernst CUHN
Die Verfassung des Handels auf dem Schwarzen Meer [Traité sur le commerce de la Mer Noire]
Very rare first German edition of this major work, with much added material showing a geopolitical angle chosen by the translator, a civil servant for the Prussian 'external affairs'. A beautiful copy, in full morocco with prestigious local provenance.
GERSTENBERG, Johann Daniel (editor)
Karmannaia kniga dlia liubitelei muzyki. Na 1795 god [Pocket Book for Music Lovers. For the Year 1795]
A great rarity: the first edition of the first year of this short-living and wide-ranging almanac, the first music almanac in Russia. Only one copy traced outside Russia (Geneva) - a fine example in contemporary binding.
First English edition of this uncommon work, organised and partly written by Catherine the Great to refute Chappe d'Auteroche's comments on Russia and its people.
Fine example, with interesting contemporary provenance, of this work on Muslim faith published by one of the most dynamic figures of Russian printing history. Very rare first edition.
SANCHES, António Nuñes Ribeiro
O parnykh rossiiskikh baniakh … perevedeno s Franktsuzskago v polzu Obshchestva [Of Russian steam baths … translated from the French for the benefit of society]
Attractive copy of this important and very interesting work on the famous Russian baths - by a Portuguese and very European scholar. Rare - only one copy in WorldCat.
First edition of a significant work on Ukraine and its famous Cossacks - but not only, covering also many other aspects of the country's history and geography. A lovely copy, in a nicely decorated binding.
Early and daring gathering of Russian proverbs, at Catherine's request. Later destroyed, but present in Pushkin's library. Scarce first edition.