At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Expedition of Storing State Papers published exquisitely designed illustrated books that covered various topics of Russian history. One of its best publications was a multi-volume collection of essays “Great Prince”s, Tsar”s and Emperor”s Hunting in Russia”. The author of the essays — Major General Nikolai Kutepov — began working on them on behalf of the Imperial Hunting Department.
Kutepov was a researcher and writer. He participated in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, including the famous Battle of Shipka Pass, where he was wounded. In September 1885, Kutepov was assigned to serve in the Imperial Court Hunt.
On his initiative, in the fall of 1898, a people’s library was opened in Gatchina in memory of Emperor Alexander III by the Society of Adherents of Russian Historical Education. Kutepov was tasked with preparing a publication of a large-scale study on the history of hunting. He faced a difficult challenge — to collect and analyze a large amount of poorly researched material on the history of hunting in Kievan Rus and in Russia: since the formation of the Old Russian state until the end of the 19th century.
In May 1894, Kutepov presented the first version to the emperor, and the preparation of a beautiful gift edition began. Young, but already accomplished artists worked on the design: Ilya Repin, Nikolay Samokish, Vasily Surikov, Viktor Vasnetsov. The printing was entrusted to the best printing house in Russia — the Expedition of Storing State Papers.
The first volume, dedicated to Emperor Alexander III, under the title ‘Great Prince”s and Tsar”s Hunting in Russia’ was printed in 1896. The introduction read:
Kutepov was a researcher and writer. He participated in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878, including the famous Battle of Shipka Pass, where he was wounded. In September 1885, Kutepov was assigned to serve in the Imperial Court Hunt.
On his initiative, in the fall of 1898, a people’s library was opened in Gatchina in memory of Emperor Alexander III by the Society of Adherents of Russian Historical Education. Kutepov was tasked with preparing a publication of a large-scale study on the history of hunting. He faced a difficult challenge — to collect and analyze a large amount of poorly researched material on the history of hunting in Kievan Rus and in Russia: since the formation of the Old Russian state until the end of the 19th century.
In May 1894, Kutepov presented the first version to the emperor, and the preparation of a beautiful gift edition began. Young, but already accomplished artists worked on the design: Ilya Repin, Nikolay Samokish, Vasily Surikov, Viktor Vasnetsov. The printing was entrusted to the best printing house in Russia — the Expedition of Storing State Papers.
The first volume, dedicated to Emperor Alexander III, under the title ‘Great Prince”s and Tsar”s Hunting in Russia’ was printed in 1896. The introduction read:
