Extensive record of St Petersburg at the end of its first century
Publication: Riga, Johann Friederich Hartknoch, 1793.
Crisp, attractive example of this important and very detailed description of the Russian northern capital and its region. Complete with both maps, on thick paper.
£1,500
In stock
One of the first fundamental studies on St. Petersburg: “excellent regional description” (Neue Deutsche Biographie) that “remained worth reading up to the present day for its detailed description. [Georgi’s] report comprises all aspects of urban life including climatic and geographical descriptions, social structure, crime, court and everyday life of the inhabitants of St. Petersburg” (Dahlmann).
A fine example, fresh and crisp in contemporary binding, complete both folding maps, here on thick blue paper, including one of the earliest and most precise maps of the Northern capital.
During his sixteen years in St. Petersburg, the German naturalist, ethnographer and the first scientific explorer of Lake Baikal, Johann Gottlieb Georgi (1729-1802), also studied topography, city history and planning. Being a meticulous naturalist (he was a student of Carl Linnaeus), he accurately recorded a myriad of insightful details for his fundamental characterisation of St. Petersburg by the end of the reign of Catherine II. Versuch einer Beschreibung… therefore became the first comprehensive description of the Russian capital. Georgi in his study relied on several works of his predecessors, but the most valuable information was obtained from the accounts of various local connoisseurs and old-timers.
Georgi describes the history of St. Petersburg since it was founded by Peter the Great and depicts the economic and cultural life of each district of the city, the royal residences, including Tsarskoe Selo -with mention of the Amber Room-, the palaces of the nobility and the houses of poor citizens, the art collections open to the public (Kunstkamera and Natural Cabinet at the Academy of Sciences, the collection of paintings and sculpture of the Academy of Arts, etc.), clubs, libraries, artists and musicians, the customs of the lower class and the habits of the aristocracy: sledging, baths, card games, and social outings to balls and theatres.
He also pays special attention to the demography, representatives of European nationalities living in the city, medical facilities, orphanages, military, educational and charitable institutions, city administration and imperial book depositories. Economic issues are covered in particular detail in his observations of the activities of merchants, trade, crafts and manufactures. In the section on measures, weights and Russian coinage, Georgi includes a chapter on local banks.
The book was first published in St. Petersburg in 1790, in this German version. Ours is a second edition, or rather a re-issue with a new title page by the prominent Riga publisher Johann Hartknoch. Hartknoch issued a number of works relating to Russia in preceding years, as well as many of Immanuel Kant’s works, including the famous Kritik der reinen Vernunft. The French and Russian translations of Georgi’s work both came out in St. Petersburg only in 1794. This German edition however includes some words in Russian and printed in Cyrillics, esp. related to the natural history of the region.
OCLC locates no copies of this edition in the US and five in Europe (Württembergische Landesbibliothek, Institut de France, Bnf, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, British Library).
Provenance
Carl? Pettlingen? (contemporary ink signature to lower pastedown); from the estate of Prof. Philip Longworth (1933-2021, historian and writer, esp. on Russian history; acquired at Christie’s London, 30 Nov. 2006, lot 17).
Bibliography
Cat. Russica G-340; Dittmar Dahlmann, Die Kenntnis Russlands im deutschsprachigen Raum im 18 Jahrhundert, pp. 191-192. For both engravers see Rovinskii, Slovar, 1115 and 1199, without mention of these two works though.
Item number
2785
Two parts in one vol. 8vo (20.8 x 12.7 cm). Title, [ii] dedication, xvi dedication and intro, 1–340 pp.; title, 341–615 pp., [16] pp., and 2 large folding engraved maps on thick blue paper: the Plan der Kayserlichen Residenz Stadt St. Petersburg 1790 (sheet 38.5 x 42.7 cm) by Efim Chudoekow [Khudiakov] and “Charte vom St. Petersburgischen Gouvernement” (sheet 45.5 x 51 cm) engraved by F.D. Schlepper [probably Dmitrii Shlepper].
Binding
Contemporary half-calf over speckled boards, spine with raised bands, gilt fillets, lighter leather label lettered in gilt, red speckled edges
Condition
Binding a bit rubbed at hinges, extremities and a bit more on boards, head of spine with closed tears; titles with minor additions in ink, first map with minor closed tear otherwise fresh and crisp.
Very rare small-format school atlas showing the development of the Russian Empire during 1000 years, and its extent at its height. With original hand-colour. No other physical copies traced, including in Russia.
First edition of this important, wide-ranging and intelligent account of St. Petersburg at the end of Catherine the Great's reign. Ucnommon, especially with all plates. This copy fresh and crisp internally.
First edition of this fundamental work on the Russian empire and its peoples, the result of a multi-year field trip by Georgi. The first work published in Russia with plates coloured by hand. Rare complete as here.
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