Our Notes & References
A surprisingly excellent copy, superbly fresh, of this important travel account in the Muscovy of the 1660s. Includes the ‘Statuta Moschovitica’, Meyerberg’s translation of the celebrated code of laws of Tsar Alexis, and its first printing outside Russia.
First edition of Meyerberg’s account of the embassy sent by Emperor Leopold I to Tsar Alexis Mikhailovich in 1661-63 to re-establish peace between Poland and Russia. An Austrian Councillor of Justice,Meyerberg was sent together with Calvucci and 17 attendants. After having entered the country with the greatest difficulty, he finally was allowed to stay in Moscow for a year – but without communication with the West.
Mayerberg’s careful description of the country and the Russians before Peter the Great’s transforming reign is very valuable, and one of the best to be published after Herberstein’s. It includes in its the second half the ‘Statuta Moschovitica’, a translation which Tsar Alexis had recently given to its subjects, translated into latin by the author. It is worth nothing that these laws were not included in the 1688 French translation of the work.
Provenance
Form the estate of Prof. Philip Longworth (1933-2021, historian and writer, esp. on Russian history).
Bibliography
Brunet III, 1557 (“Ouvrage rare”); Cat. Russica M 622; Ebert 13485 (“Of especial rarity” ); NBC 34, 543 (“Ouvrage rare et curieux”); Recke-N. III, 222 (“Höchst selten”); VD 17 23:317919W; Winkelmann 680.
Physical Description
Small folio (29.5 x 19.7 cm). 236 pp. including title.
Binding
18th-century calf, spine with raised bands gilt, red marbled endpapers, red edges, green silk bookmark.
Condition
Binding minimally rubbed at extremities, a small area of abrasion, gilt ornaments fresh and bright; title lightly soiled, one light brown stain to blank margin of a few leaves, otherwise excellent, crisp and spotless.
