Our Notes & References

First edition of this scarce work, here in a lovely example finely bound by Petit, Simier’s successor.

We couldn’t trace any other example selling at auction.

Publishing it directly in French and soon after the Crimean war, the Russian official and Slavophile Nikolai Arsenevich Zherebtsov (1807–68) wrote his rather extensive work to give foreigners “a true and complete understanding” (author’s words, our translation) of every aspect of Russian history, life, culture, education, and economy. Spread across two volumes, the first part centres on “Old Russia” before the time of Peter the Great, starting from the nation’s origins and the history of the ancient Slavs. The meticulously structured chapters range from Russia’s trade with China and across Siberia, to the role of women in old Russian society, the hierarchy of its social structure, and even the envoys sent by Cromwell to the northern port of Arkhangelsk.

The second volume explores the changes that followed Peter the Great’s reign, arguing that his adoption of Western European customs harmed the natural development of both the Russian people and the state. According to Zherebtsov, it took Russia a long time to lessen the damaging influence of the West. Other topics include high (sacrée) and low (profane) literature, the growth of journalism and the sciences, as well as detailed observations on the Russian school system, illustrated through a large comparative table of public education institutions across the empire. In both volumes, Zherebtsov draws comparisons between Russia and Europe, highlighting their respective paths of development during the same period.

This is a rather luxurious copy, bound by Charles Petit, successor to Alphonse Simier (1795–c.1849), the only son and heir of René Simier (1772–1837 or 1843), a leading figure in French bookbinding during the Restoration. Alphonse Simier took over his father’s workshop in 1824 and, like him, was appointed “binder to the King,” as well as to the Duchess of Berry and the Duke of Bordeaux. Around 1847–49, Charles Petit, who had been a long-time associate of René Simier, took over the business and continued to run it for the next twenty-five years. He adorned this example with the Russian imperial coats of arms on the boards and moiré endpapers.