Our Notes & References
The earliest colour-plate book on Southern Russia, Ukraine and the Crimea, with a wealth of delicate aquatint plates.
A pleasant copy in full leather binding.
“An extremely charming colour plate book [which] deserves a place in every colour plate book collection for its numerous attractive coloured vignettes, an unusual feature” (Tooley).
Pallas’ second and most picturesque travel, which lasted 6 years from 1768 to 1774, took his team (including the artist Geissler) in a scientific journey along the Volga to Astrakhan, the Caspian Sea, and then the Caucasus and ‘Taurida’, that is the Crimea, to which the entire second volume is dedicated.
A handsome production due mainly to the numerous attractive and charming hand-coloured illustrations which appear as vignettes in the text as well as additional plates. They depict the natives of the regions traversed, their costumes and occupations, the scenery and landscapes, showing for example fine views of Bakhchisaray, the Sebastopol and Balaklava bays.
This copy belongs to the second edition, almost identical to the first.
Bibliography
Abbey Travel I.222; Cat. Rusica P59; Tooley 357.
Physical Description
Two volumes 4to. 1p. errata in each volume. 55 engraved or engraved and aquatint plates, plans and maps, most by or after G. Geissler, 29 vignette illustrations, the vast majority of plates and vignettes with fine original hand-colour.
Binding
Recent full dark brown calf, spines with raised bands and lettered in gilt.
Condition
Bindings in fine condition, the odd spot internally, some offsetting from plates as usual.
![Image for Illiustrirovannaia khronika voiny [The Illustrated Chronicle of War], Skt. Peterburg, 1877-78. First edition, in publisher's binding. #1](https://www.pyrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/1072-300x263.jpg)
