Putilov, Nikolai Ivanovich.

28 volumes, 4to (259 x 167mm.), engraved additional title-page to each volume, 63 plates (some folding), contemporary purple velvet gilt, gilt stamp to centre of upper covers, spines lettered and numbered in gilt, silk doublures and endpapers, edges gilt, lacking volumes 29-33, occasional light spotting, some spines slightly faded

R. Mintzloff, "Notice sur les reliures anciennes de la bibliothèque impériale de Saint-Petersbourg", Bulletin du Bibliophile (Nov.-Dec. 1858), p. 1319

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
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a near mint set of this detailed and contemporary work on the crimean war, in a velvet binding made for nicholas i.

Putilov (1820-1880) was an ambitious and successful entrepreneur. He graduated from the Naval School in 1840 and proceeded to lecture in the Navy Department until 1857: his closeness to the military matters of the day coupled with clear communicative skills and an impressive knowledge of engineering placing him in an ideal position to put together this account of the Crimean conflict.

The numerous plates, some of which are coloured, include folding maps, dramatic battle scenes, plans (some with fold-up tabs), scenic views and portraits of key players in the conflict.

Putilov subsequently immersed himself in practical engineering. In 1868 he purchased an iron foundry from the government: soon known as the Putilovsky Plant. He drew up a plan for an integrated transport system: constructing a port near Gutuevsky Island, the Morskoy Canal, and a branch line between the port and the Nikolaevskaya railway as a means of implementing the project.

Mintzloff, in his article for the Bulletin du Bibliophile, describes similar velvet bindings on other books bound for Nicholas I. The set of this work in the British Library is very incomplete but contains volumes up to number 33. This set was presumably bound up around the time of Nicholas I's death in February/March 1855, which is why the last few volumes, published well after his death, are not included.