Histoire et Monuments des Emaux Byzantins.

Baron Alexander Egorovich von Wrangel's copy. One of the most luxurious publications of the 19th century' (RGB). Complete with the original fabric chemise, zkladka [bookmark] and box.

From the library of Baron Aleksandr Egorovich Wrangel (1833-1915), diplomat, friend of Dostoevsky, and the uncle of General Wrangel. At the time of printing he was consul general in Danzig.

One of the greatest bibliographic rarities, this book is undoubtedly a masterpiece of the Russian printing industry. It has no equals either in terms of workmanship or in terms of the funds involved (it cost 120,000 roubles in gold by the exchange rate for 1892' (Vengerov). After Zwenigorodskoi's death J.P. Morgan bought his spectacular collection, which is now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. This copy was presented to Baron Wrangel, a close friend of Dostoevsky.

The Zwenigorodskoi collection is almost as famous for its catalogue as it was for its ancient enamels. Very little is known of the collector Aaron Zwenigorodskoi himself. It is believed that he developed an interest in medieval art during a visit to Spain in 1864. By the end of the nineteenth century, his collection included 43 early Byzantine, Georgian, and Kyivan enamels of the highest quality. At the time, his collection was considered the premier collection of Byzantine and related enamels, but now it is recognised that some of the pieces are of questionable provenance.

For the publication of his collection, Zwenigorodskoi chose not to use photographs, although the technology was available; instead, he hired expert illustrators to produce engravings and chromolithographs from photographs or examination of the objects themselves. He also hired renowned Russian art historian Nikolas P. Kondakov to write the text. After 8 years of work, in 1892, the sumptuously illustrated and beautifully bound catalogue Histoire et monuments des émaux byzantins appeared, but it was not available for sale. Zwenigorodskoi reportedly paid upwards of $200,000 for a limited edition of 200 copies that he gave to royal and important persons throughout Europe and Russia.

First edition, limited edition, one of 200 copies, 4to (36 x 27.5 cm); portrait frontispiece on India, with the silk place-mark [zakladka], chromolithographed dedication with patterned silver foil background, chromolithographed additional title, title printed in red within chromolithographed border, chromolithographed divisional titles, initials and tail-pieces, 31 chromolithographed plates; original morocco, sides and spine blocked and richly gilt, edges printed in various colours, original printed endpapers, with the original fabric chemise, and silk lined black box, box a little worn otherwise a fine copy.