RUSSIAN IMPERIAL CORONATION BOOKS, 1899 ( NICHOLAS II ) Original personal set of Prince John Constantinovich Start Price USD 30,000.00 Current Price USD 30,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 1 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, May 10, 2008 End Time Saturday, May 17, 2008 Location pittsburgh, PA See more about 'RUSSIAN IMPERIAL CORONATION BOOKS, 1899 ( NICHOLAS II )' Description "A COLLECTION OF THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL CORONATION" Extraordinarily rare and magnificent two-volume commemorative album intended for personal guests at the Russian Imperial Coronation of Nicholas and Alexandra. Green leather bound with gold gilted edges. This set was the personal copy of Prince John Constantinovich, son of the poet and actor, Grand Duke Constantine Constantinovich (first cousin to the Tsar), whose funeral in 1915 was the last state funeral ever held in Imperial Russia. (More below on Prince John.) These personal volumes were published in St. Petersburg in 1899 and presented to the royal family and some of the important guests. Each set was made for a specific individual. Volume 1 - 428 pages, and consists of the history of Russian Coronations leading up to and including the 1896 Coronation of Nicholas and Alexandra. Multiple colored lithographs and black and white sketches. (see photos) Volume 2 is 336 pages and consists of photographs of the Imperial Russian family and ambassadors from many countries. Also bound into this volume are beautifully ornate and detailed original art including menus of state dinners and programs from plays and operas. (see photos) To give you an idea of the rarity of these books and the status that they carry: Kate Koon, a debutante from Minneapolis traveling in Europe, was invited with her sister to join the American diplomatic delegation to the imperial coronation. She was given a copy of the albums by one of the masters of ceremonies and later presented it to the Library of Congress. Last we can tell, it still resides in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division. We called the book division and did not receive a call back, but it's a 1998 calendar from The Library of Congress that we are using to describe some of the books' contents. (See attached photos and name below. Ask for more pictures if you'd like.) My father in law, who owns these books, has also personally viewed a copy of the set at the New York Public Library during an exhibition of books owned by the Romanovs. This exact pair was originally acquired from the Armand Hammer Galleries (5th Avenue New York) in the 1930's by Pittsburgh artist and collector of Romanov memorabilia, Vincent Nesbert. Nesbert served as Dean of the Art Institure here for many years, and is best known for the impressive murals he painted for the Allegheny County Court House. After his death in 1977 they were acquired by another artist and collector, who is still alive today so we'll withhold his name. My father in law took ownership of them 10 years ago after a hefty exchange of multiple Imperial German helmets with this man. As for how they got toThe States from Russia, it is believed that Armand Hammer acted with Stalin to bring Russian goods to America to tap into the capitalist society in order to fund the new government system in Russia. These books, along with many other items (ie, Faberge Eggs), were the contents of the Armand Hammer Galleries during the time Nesbert acquired the books in New York. The books do contain the original stickers from the galleries! Condition: Volumes are complete, minus about 10 protective onion sheets to preserve lithographs. Spines are both very good. Binding edges are a bit rubbed. The books are in overall good condition. We will note some moderate wear to the binding and spine. Pages are slightly yellowed, however, the printing, color and art detail are in excellent condition. We can supply any other photos needed from and of the book. We also have other references as we've used above from some items that my father in law has. Primarily information from a 1998 Library of Congress calendar, "Nicholas and Alexandra: The Fall of the Romanovs". Some of the art work in also in another book we have called Russian Graphic Design 1880-1917. Note: Item can be viewed and picked up in person, or you can elect whichever shipping method you prefer. Buyer is responsible for whichever shipping fees and insurance that they select. The weight is approximately 35lbs if you would like to calculate from zip code 15209 in Pennsylvania, but insurance is more difficult to determine. See payment details below regarding the method we prefer, and will accept for this transaction!! We look forward to your questions! Photo 1: Front covers of Volumes 1 and 2. Photo 2: Back covers of Volumes 1 and 2. Photo 3: Side spine view of Volumes 1 and 2. Photo 4: From Volume 2. Photo of Prince John Constantinovich and his brother as children. Photo 5: Photo of Prince John Constantinovich and his brother as young men from another book. (Our books are NOT marked with yellow!) Photo 6: Book dedication page to His Highness Prince John Contantinovich. (This is at the beginning of both volumes.) Photo 7: Copied page of a brief account fo the death of Price John and his other family members from another book. My Father in law can not remeber for sure where he copied this page from years ago. Photo 8: From Volume 2. Artist Victor Vasnetsov, Moscow 1896. Menu for dinner on 14 May 1896 on the occassion of the coronation of Their Imperial Majesties Nicholas II and Alexandra Fedorovna: Rassolinik Soup (meat or fish soup with pickled cucumbers), clear beetroot soup with pies, steamed sterlet, roast lamb, capons, salad, asparagus, and pheasant in aspic. For dessert their were fruits in wine and ice cream. 38" X 13.25". (Jack has seen just one of these menus sell for $5,000!) Photo 9: From Volume 2. Artist Artist Victor Vasnetsov, Moscow 1896. Supper menu of 20 May 1896 on the occasion of the Coronation of Nicholas II and Alexandra Fedorovna: partridge soup with variosu pies, sterlet a I'Italienne, roast poulard and game, Swiss salad, and ice cream with rasberry sauce. Photo 10: From Volume 1. The Tsar taking communion before his anointing. (Also in the photo is a duplicate that we have.) Photo 11: From Volume 2. Artist Ivan Ropet, Moscow 1896. Announcement of The Coronation of the Emperor Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra Fedorovna on 14 May 1896. 16.5" x 11.5". Photo 12: The Herald announcing the cornonation. (Jack has seen this photo alone go for $1,500.) Here is more on Prince John Constantinovich: John Constantinovich was born as a Grand Duke of russia with the style imperial highness, but at the age of 9 days, a Ukaz of his cousin Emperor Alexander III of Russia stripped him of that title, as the Ukaz amended the House Law by limiting the grand-ducal title to grandsons of a reigning emperor. As a result he received the title Prince of the Imperial Blood (Prince of Russia) with the style Highness. He once entertained the possibility of becoming an Orthodox monk, but eventually fell in love with the fair and strong-willed Princess Helen of Serbia. They married on September 2 1911, and Helen took the name Princess Helen Petrovna of Russia. They were a very happy couple, blessed with a son, Prince Vsevolod Ivanovich (20 January 1914 - 18 June 1973), and a daughter, PrinceSS Catherine Ivanovna (12 July 1915 - 13 March 2007), who was the last member of the Imperial Family to be born before the fall of the dynasty, and was ultimately to become the last surviving uncontested dynast of the Imperial House of Russia. Prince Ioann fought in the First World War, was decorated as a war hero, and was at the front when the Russian Revolution of 1917 started. In April 1918 he was exiled to the Urals by the Bolsheviks, and later murdered in July the same year in an atrocious way in a mineshaft near Alapaevsk, along with his brothers Prince Constantine Constantinovich and Prince IgoR Constantinovich, his cousin Prince Vladimir Pavlovich Paley, and other relatives and friends. His body was eventually buried in Beijing, in the cemetery of the Russian Orthodox Mission, which was destroyed years later to build a park. MOre that I found on Prince john (mainly of he death) under info on the Life of the Holy Royal Martyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth: The Grand Duchess met the revolutionary storm with remarkable calmness and self-control. She continued to live in the convent nursing the sick in her hospital, where she also fed the poor. There was no change in the routine of her life except that her prayers became even more fervent. She was always composed and completely resigned to the will of God. The communists, after seizing power during the October revolution in 1917, to everyone's surprise, allowed the Grand Duchess and all the members of her convent complete freedom; even rendered material support in the way of food supplies. It made it more difficult to bear the sudden blow when, on Holy Pascah (after Agape Vespers) the communists ordered her to leave Moscow and join the Imperial Family in Ekaterinburg. She asked for two hours to make the necessary preparations for the long journey but they were denied. She left with two novices, Sister Barbara, and Sister Katherine, escorted by a convoy of Latvian Guards. Her future suffering could have been avoided if she had heeded the words of the Swedish Cabinet Minister who came to Moscow at the request of the German Emperor offering to help her leave the country. She answered him that he was right, that horrible times lay ahead, but she wanted to share the fate of her country and its people. Her decision was of course her own death sentence. The Grand Duchess was told by the communists that in the South she would be working as a Red Cross nurse. They gave her a private compartment on the train. She was happy at the prospective meeting with her sister, the Empress Alexandra, and ready to serve the people at the new place. Arriving at Ekaterinburg, the Grand Duchess was forbidden contact with the Tsar's family. Sister Barbara succeeded in getting near the house of the imprisoned and seeing (through a crack in the fence) only the Emperor Tsar Nicholas II, in the garden or at a window. The Grand Duchess was temporarily placed in the convent where she was warmly greeted by all the sisters. She especially appreciated the fact that she was permitted to attend all church services. In the spring of 1918, soon after the arrival of the Emperor from Perm, and lodged in a dirty town inn were Grand Duke Serge Mikhailovich with his attendant R. Remez, three brothers, Grand Dukes John, Constantine, and George Constantinovich, and young Count Vladimir Paely, just twenty years old. They were placed in one room, badly treated, and kept half-starved. But they were allowed sometimes, to leave the inn which gave them a chance to meet people and even visit old acquaintances. At the end of May, all the above mentioned and Grand Duchess Elizabeth were transported to Alopaevsk near Keaterinburg, and lodged in a school house on the edge of town. Although guarded, the Grand Duchess was permitted to go to church, work in the vegetable garden, with her own hands she weeded the vegetables and arranged the flower beds: she also painted and prayed. Lunches and dinners were served to her in her room: the rest ate together. At times the Grand Duchess was able to send words of encouragement and consolation to the sisters of her convent in Moscow, who deeply mourned her absence. There was some contact with the population, as among the possessions of the Grand Duchess there was a handmade towel of plain peasant linen embroidered with flowers and the inscription: "Dear Mother Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, do not refuse to accept in the ancient Russian custom the bread and salt from the loyal servants of the Tsar and the Motherland. Peasants of the Nievo-Alopaevsk district, Verkhotursk county". Such were the conditions of their life until the fatal night of 18th July. On that night they were suddenly taken to a place 12 miles from Alopaevsk, where all were atrociously murdered. It happened in the Verkhoutsk tract of a mine called "Nizhnaya Selimskaya". Only Grand Duke Sergey Mikhailovich was shot, the rest were blindfolded and thrown into the mine alive, after which the murderers threw into the mine some hand grenades and some junk. The mine was about 200 feet deep, but the corpses of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth and Grand Duke John Constantinovich were found on a ledge only 50 feet from the top. The Grand Duchess Elizabeth had remained alive for a long time. Near the mine, one could hear hymns - some say from hymns from the Vesper service, and these hymns continued through the following day. A peasant driving by on his cart heard the singing. In fright, he drove hurriedly to the camp of the White Army not very distant from there and told them about it. They reproached him for not giving any help, at least by throwing a piece of bread into the mine. When the White Army was able to reach the spot they removed the bodies of the murdered. Investigation showed that the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, herself mortally wounded, had dressed the wounds of Grand Duke John. Near her body were two unexploded hand grenades, on her chest an icon of Jesus Christ. The holy martyr had sung hymns for herself and for others, funeral hymns, hymns giving thanks or glorifying God, until the hymns of God's kingdom had sounded her. Thus the holy martyr's crown of thorns was placed on her head for her to join the saints. By the order of Admiral Kochack, the head of the Siberian White Army, the body of the Grand Duchess and all who were murdered with her were solemnly buried in Alopaev Cathedral (November 1st 1918). Later, when the White Army had to retreat under pressure from the Reds, the bodies were taken to Irkutsk (July 1919) and later to China (February 28th 1920). At a point near the Chinese border the communists were able to attack the convoy. They had time to throw out the coffin of the Grand Duke John, but some Chinese soldiers arrived in time to stop the sacrilege. On 3rd April, the bodies were buried at the church of St. Seraphim of Sarov at the cemetery of the Russian mission in Peking. Later, the body of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth and that of sister Barbara, through the care of Princess Victoria, were taken to Palestine. There, on December 15th, 1920 they were solemnly met in Jerusalem by the representatives of the British Government, by the Greek and Russian clergy, and by innumerable Russian immigrants and local residents. The Grand Duchess Elizabeth was buried in the church of St Mary Magdalene of Gethsemane, the church built in memory of the Dowager Empress Maria (wife of the Emperor Tsar Alexander II) by her august children. The Grand Duchess had been present with her husband at its consecration in 1888, and they say, she loved the church so much that she expressed a desire to spend the last days of her life near it. "Like a beautiful apparition, she passed through this world, leaving behind her a radiant trail," wrote her biographer, His Eminence Metropolitan Anastassy. "Together with the other sufferers for the motherland she is at the same time the atonement of former Russia, and the foundation of the Russia to come, which will be built on the remains of the new holy martyrs. Such images have lasting significance: their predestination is eternal memory on earth and in heaven. Not in vain had the voice of the people of Russia proclaimed her a saint while she was yet alive. As if to reward her for her glorious deeds on earth, and especially for her love for Holy Russia, her martyred remains (which according to eyewitnesses were found in the mine untouched by decay) were destined to rest near the very place of the sufferings and holy Resurrection of the Savior."    On May-15-08 at 07:16:31 PDT, seller added the following information:More info I just found on 5/15: these coronation books follow in the tradition of similar works published to mark such ceremonies in russia, dating back to the accession to the throne of anna ioannova. the first volume contains a great history of the coronation of the great princes of moscow, the tsars and emperors, as well as a detailed account of the coronation of nicholas and alexandra. the second volume consists of official documents connected to the celebrations: photographs and lists of royalty, government delegations and others present at the ceremony, manifestos, decrees, awards, invitations, posters, menus and programmes of events. they were printed in two languages, french and russian. volume 1 has a silver medallion on the front cover with an image of nicholas and alexandra. (see photo) volume 2 has some sort of emblem of a double headed eagle, but we're unsure what exactly it is. (see photo) Place a Bid!