Our Notes & References

An attractive example of this great book. The costumes were drawn after Georgi and Mueller, the English text was written by William Alexander, after the main texts available at the time on Russia: Pallas, Chappe d’Auteroche, Krashenenikov, Sauer…

Publishing the first issue of his work in 1803, Harding had probably to compete with Miller, who published at the same time a very similar work as part of his series of costume books. The present edition has one costume plate fewer but includes an engraved title, longer explanatory text and more decorative plates enriched with background. As the introduction puts it, “to conclude: no pains nor expense have been spared to render this Volume worthy of public attention; and without depreciating the merit of other performances of similar nature, the Publisher flatters himself that it will be found the most complete work of the kind that has hitherto appeared in this or in any country”!