The Coronation Book of May 14, 1896 was published in St. Petersburg in 1899. It had the format of two luxuriously designed volumes edited by famous St. Petersburg writer and public figure Vasily Krivenko. On the binding case, there is an inscription: ‘Crowned in Moscow on May 14, 1896’.
The first volume of the edition acquaints with the history of coronation tradition and overviews coronations of all Russian monarchs. The second volume includes a detailed illustrated description of the coronation of Nicholas II and his wife, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.
In addition in this book, the publisher gives descriptions of other festivities featuring the imperial couple, government and other documents that were issued in connection with the coronation celebrations: copies of manifestos, decrees, event programmes, invitations, tickets, lists of guests who arrived in Moscow to participate in the celebration and a full menu for each days of the celebration.
For illustrations, the collection uses photographs of guests, phototypes from ancient engravings and manuscripts by Alexander Benois, Viktor Vasnetsov, Vladimir Makovsky, Ilya Repin, Valentin Serov and many other artists.
The two-volume edition has all features of a luxurious edition: a decorative, highly artistic initials, head ornaments and tailpieces, a half-binding with decorative lettering, and a gilt edge. The front cover is decorated with the coat of arms of the Russian Empire, surrounded by a floral design. Over there one can see an attached round metal plate with a bas-relief of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire and the inscription on the contour: ‘God is with us’. Below is a colourful imprint of the inscription: ‘Crowned in Moscow on May 14, 1896’.
The coronation book was presented at the International Exhibition of Printing and Graphics that was held in Leipzig in 1914. There it was recognized a masterpiece of Russian book art.
The two-volume edition entered the museum collection in 1899–1900. This is indicated by the following report lines: ‘Very valuable acquisitions of the library so far are: Prince E. Ukhtomsky written works… and the Coronation Book’.
The first volume of the edition acquaints with the history of coronation tradition and overviews coronations of all Russian monarchs. The second volume includes a detailed illustrated description of the coronation of Nicholas II and his wife, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.
In addition in this book, the publisher gives descriptions of other festivities featuring the imperial couple, government and other documents that were issued in connection with the coronation celebrations: copies of manifestos, decrees, event programmes, invitations, tickets, lists of guests who arrived in Moscow to participate in the celebration and a full menu for each days of the celebration.
For illustrations, the collection uses photographs of guests, phototypes from ancient engravings and manuscripts by Alexander Benois, Viktor Vasnetsov, Vladimir Makovsky, Ilya Repin, Valentin Serov and many other artists.
The two-volume edition has all features of a luxurious edition: a decorative, highly artistic initials, head ornaments and tailpieces, a half-binding with decorative lettering, and a gilt edge. The front cover is decorated with the coat of arms of the Russian Empire, surrounded by a floral design. Over there one can see an attached round metal plate with a bas-relief of the coat of arms of the Russian Empire and the inscription on the contour: ‘God is with us’. Below is a colourful imprint of the inscription: ‘Crowned in Moscow on May 14, 1896’.
The coronation book was presented at the International Exhibition of Printing and Graphics that was held in Leipzig in 1914. There it was recognized a masterpiece of Russian book art.
The two-volume edition entered the museum collection in 1899–1900. This is indicated by the following report lines: ‘Very valuable acquisitions of the library so far are: Prince E. Ukhtomsky written works… and the Coronation Book’.
