A wonderful gift edition of ‘My Tales’ by Nikolay Karazin is stored in the RSL Book Museum. On Christmas 1911 this book was presented to the heir to the throne, Tsesarevich Alexei, by his parents, Emperor Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra Feodorovna, or as little Alexei knew them, simply ‘Papa and Mama’.
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N. N. Karazin
My fairy tales
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The covers of this book series by A. Devrien are very ornamental, yet elegant.
Swiss by birth, Alfred Fedorovich Devrien (1842—1920) founded a publishing house in St. Petersburg in 1872, since he was well aware that Russia represented a huge market. The publishing house initially specialised in high-quality translated and domestic literature on applied agriculture, geography, natural sciences as well as on reference books. Since the 1880's A. Devrien began to publish educational books for children and young people, sparing no expense on good illustrations, maps, etc. His publications were often referred to as ‘festive’. High typeset quality became an essential and recognisable characteristic of all the A.F. Devrien’s editions; it is no coincidence that they dominated the gift book market. They often served as Christmas and Name Day presents.
Swiss by birth, Alfred Fedorovich Devrien (1842—1920) founded a publishing house in St. Petersburg in 1872, since he was well aware that Russia represented a huge market. The publishing house initially specialised in high-quality translated and domestic literature on applied agriculture, geography, natural sciences as well as on reference books. Since the 1880's A. Devrien began to publish educational books for children and young people, sparing no expense on good illustrations, maps, etc. His publications were often referred to as ‘festive’. High typeset quality became an essential and recognisable characteristic of all the A.F. Devrien’s editions; it is no coincidence that they dominated the gift book market. They often served as Christmas and Name Day presents.
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Nikolay Nikolaevich Karazin (1842—1908) – a writer, a poet, a battle painter, a realistic illustrator, and a great master of ornamental details. Portrait woth Karazin’s autograph.
The book was written and illustrated by N.N.Karazin. Nikolay Karazin was a popular illustrator, a graphic and watercolour artist. He illustrated the works of classic Russian writers: Pushkin, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Gogol, Turgenev, Nekrasov, and Grigorovich.
However, he was, generally speaking, a military battle artist, and together with V.I. Vereshchagin, the main Russian battle painter, he participated in the Turkestan campaign (military operation in Central Asia of the 1867—1870s) and the Balkan campaign (Serbian-Turkish and Russian-Turkish War of 1877—1878).
However, he was, generally speaking, a military battle artist, and together with V.I. Vereshchagin, the main Russian battle painter, he participated in the Turkestan campaign (military operation in Central Asia of the 1867—1870s) and the Balkan campaign (Serbian-Turkish and Russian-Turkish War of 1877—1878).
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He was a military correspondent and drew many sketches of both the theatre of war and everyday lives of our soldiers and local residents.
Karazin’s literary works make up 25 volumes. A considerable portion is dedicated to his military experience. One of Karazin’s biggest novels, ‘In the Gun Powder Smoke, is dedicated to the war for the independence of Serbia. He also wrote poetry and fairy tales.
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His love of ornaments drew the attention of critics. A.A. Sidorov, an art critic and a great connoisseur of the art of the book, believed that Karazin tried to follow the ‘spirit of the age’ in his works, viewing ‘beauty’ as decorativeness.
Another popular book for teenagers, ‘Modest feats’ by V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko with illustrations by N. Karazin, is displayed at the exhibition in the Boys' Room.
Nikolay Karazin was the creator of the first Russian New Year and Easter cards and the author of ‘historical’ playing cards depicting various representatives of Russian peoples.
Another popular book for teenagers, ‘Modest feats’ by V.I. Nemirovich-Danchenko with illustrations by N. Karazin, is displayed at the exhibition in the Boys' Room.
Nikolay Karazin was the creator of the first Russian New Year and Easter cards and the author of ‘historical’ playing cards depicting various representatives of Russian peoples.
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