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The Regulations [Statute] of the Russian Order
Officers [Emperor Pavel I’s Order Statute] printed on the fifth day of
April in 1799, Grand Folio, 25 pages of text decorated with fine
borders of twisted garlands (border of the first page consists of
various regional emblems) and 38 special plates with figures of orders
and clothes for holders of these orders, engraving under supervision
by engraver E. Koshkin. This is a wholly engraved issue in soft
publishing covers, good condition, one of the most issues of XVIII
century. A rarity! This is book No. 1 in the history of the national
award system of Russian Empire.
This excellent book in grand folio was issued on April 05, 1797 and
engraved under supervision by engraver Elisey Ivanovich Koshkin (1761
- 1836), a son of servant of Academy President Betskoy, who was his
godfather. He was sent abroad with the academy scholarship and
appointed as academician upon his return. For a long time, he served
at the Hydrographic Depot in the Naval Ministry and in the last years
of his life he served at the land surveying workshop. In addition to
the Regulations, Koshkin supervised engraving of the following issues:
1. Atlas for P. Reimers' book Travel to Ottoman Empire with Russian
Imperial Embassy in 1793. Saint Petersburg, 1803.
2. I. Betskoy. Establishment of Educational House. Saint Petersburg,
1789.
3. Count Choiselle-Goufier. Travel to Greece.
The Regulations[statute] of the Russian Order Officers is attributed
to the category of wholly engraved departmental issues, which are
described in details by S. A. Klepikov in his famous study Russian
Engraved Books of XVII and XVIII Centuries (Moscow, 1964). The
Regulations consist of 25 pages with text in
 ornamental frames,
twisted laurels, with monogram P above and 38 figures of orders and
clothes attributed to order officers by ranks (cavalier of order,
chief master of ceremonies, treasurer, secretary, and herald). The
text is printed by page boards in both sides of sheet, all the figures
are on one side. The first page of text with the titles of Paul I is
given in a frame, which shows the regional emblems of the Empire. This
issue is deservedly included in the number of most beautiful and rare
books of XVIII century and could not be omitted by N. V. Soloviev's
catalogue 105 under No. 475. |
