In a most unusual, remarkable artist binding

COUTÉPOFF, Nicolas [KUPEPOV, Nikolay Ivanovich]

La Chasse grand-ducale et tsarienne en Russie. Période du Xe au XVIe siècle [with] La Chasse tsarienne en Russie. XVIIe siècle

Publication: Expédition pour la confection des papiers d'état, Saint-Pétersbourg, 1896-1900.

COUTÉPOFF, Nicolas [KUPEPOV, Nikolay Ivanovich], La Chasse grand-ducale et tsarienne en Russie. Période du Xe au XVIe siècle [with] La Chasse tsarienne en Russie. XVIIe siècle

‘Tsarskaia Okhota’: the greatest Russian hunting book in a spectacular and most unusual Belgian binding made of cuir repoussé, incoporating Samokish’s design of a falcon with open wings. A great example of this striking luxury book.

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The greatest Russian hunting book in a spectacular and most unusual Belgian binding made of cuir repoussé, incoporating Samokish’s design of a falcon with open wings.

Reproducing historical documents, earlier engravings, maps and plans, Kutepov’s impressive work describes not only imperial hunts but also the whole courtly life in Russia. The multiple and varied illustrations show frescoes, medals, costumes, animals, views of monuments and cities. They are mainly the work of the Ukrainian artist Nikolay Semenovich Samokish (1860-1944), while most of the plates show scenes painted by Benois, Lebedev, Repin, Rubo and Vasnetsov among others.

The work inludes significant chapters on falconry, richly illustrated.

The work was dedicated to Tsar Alexander III and published simultaneously in Russian and French. However the entreprise was so big that Kutepov died before completing his history, finished by his wife just before WWII. The financial investment dedicated to the project shrinked, and only the first two volumes appeared in French, covering the Russian hunting history from the the 10th to the 17th century. Two more volumes were published in Russian, focusing on “modern” Russia, in the 18th and 19th centuries.

This example is remarkable for its binding, as the work, in French like in Russian, is usually found in the publisher’s decorated cloth, with a fragile, soft-leather spine. There is also a deluxe version of the publisher’s binding, in full soft-leather with silver corners, but still reproducing the same decoration as the cloth. This is the first and only time we have found a personal, yet luxurious and signed binding adorning the Chasse tsarienne. Signed by “Bilben frères”, masters in “artistic leather”, it displays various skills in decorating leather, marrying strength and beauty in a very uncommon way. We couldn’t find much on Bilben, possibly more leather specialists than binders.

Item number

2259

 

Physical Description

Two volumes, folio (38 x 29 cm). Half-title, XVII pp., including dedication and title, 233, [2] pp., with a frontispiece and 7 colour plates; XXVII pp., including half-title and title, 297, [2] pp., with 38 plates, including 2 double-page, multiple vignettes in text, many full-page

Binding

Original publisher’s pictorial wrappers bound in contemporary full brown calf by “Cuirs d’art Bilben Frères” in Ghent, Belgium, with a relief on upper covers after Samokish’s design for the frontispiece, coat of arms of the Russian Empire in upper part of the upper covers in black on gold background, flat spines lettered in blind.

Condition

Binding slightly spotted, text too but very occasionally; a great, remarkable example.

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