Alexander II | Description du sacre et du couronnement, St Petersburg, 1856, original gilt leather binding

[Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna]

Description du sacre et du couronnement de leurs Majestés Impériales l'Empereur Alexandre II et l'Imperatrice Marie Alexandrovna. [St Petersburg]: (Imperial Academy of Sciences), 1856 [1861]

Double elephant folio (900 x 665mm.), printed on very thick paper, 63 text leaves in French, chromolithographed title-page printed in red, gold and silver, chromolithographed frontispiece of the regalia, chromolithographed double portrait of the Tsar and Tsarina, 14 chromolithographed plates (with captions in Russian and French) by Zichy (6), Timm (5) and others, two chromolithographed plans (of the cathedral and the Kremlin), with tissue guards (some torn or defective) and modern transparent drawing paper inserted as guards, numerous illustrations in the text (a few printed in colour), the large folding panorama of Moscow on four sheets (2336 x 240mm.) separately framed and glazed, contemporary (faded navy?) leather with large gilt centrepiece on upper cover, two metal clasps, light marginal foxing, small tear to plate of regalia, staining on pp.101-102, a few text leaves becoming detached, spine detached, binding somewhat worn

A MASSIVE AND LAVISH CORONATION ALBUM produced to commemorate the religious ceremonies and secular events surrounding the coronation of Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna in Moscow in September 1856. This commemorative album, produced for private distribution to guests and dignitaries, was produced in 200 French copies and 200 Russian copies. The chromolithographs were printed by Lemercier in Paris, the large size type was especially commissioned and the heavy paper imported from China. The main artist, Mihály von Zichy, became court painter after his successful execution of these works documenting the ceremonies.