CROWN JEWELS OF IMPERIAL RUSSIA. MALINOVSKII, ALEKSII, editor. Istoricheskoie opisanie drevniago...

CROWN JEWELS OF IMPERIAL RUSSIA. MALINOVSKII, ALEKSII, editor. Istoricheskoie opisanie drevniago rossijskago muzeia pod nazvaniem masterskoj i oruzheiskoi palati v Moskvu obretaiushagosia. [A Historical Account of the Museum of Ancient Russia. Part I (all published).] Moscow: Tipografia Imperatorskago Moskovskago universieta [P.S. Valuev at the Moscow University], 1807. Folio (508 x 352 mm). Printed on papier bleute, bound with the printed dedication to Alexander I. Engraved title-vignette, 30 engraved plates by Sokolov. Bound in full calf, gilt=lettered red label to spine. Martinal toning to first few leaves, plate 21 lightly browned, a few plates trimmed to platemarks. Spine weak with 2 inch loss to head. Provenance: bookplate ('Ex flammis orior') to front pastedown. FIRST EDITION of the extremely rare work on the Armory in Moscow. Valuev, who published the book, had been charged by Alexander I to transform the Kremlin's ancient treasury into a museum. The engraved plates show the crowns and state regalia from the era of the Great Princes. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing