Lot 36: PIERRE AMBROISE RICHEBOURG (1810-1873)

Trésors d'Art de la Russie Ancienne et Moderne
Paris: Gide, 1859-61.
Complete set of 2 volumes with a total of 60 albumen prints. Varying sizes from 10 1/4 x 8 1/8in. (26.1 x 20.5cm.) to 12 x 5 1/4 in. (30.5 x 13.2cm.) or reverse. Each with printed photographer's and publisher's credits, caption and plate number on mount. Majority with arched top. Vol.I with title, annotated 'par Théophile Gautier/ouvrage publié sous le patronage de Sa Majesté l'Empereur/Alexandre II/dédié a Sa Majesté L'Impératrice/Marie Alexandrovna/200 planches héliographiques/par Richebourg', half title with 'Bibliothèque de San Donato' library and royal crest stamps. Vol.II with same library and royal crest stamps on section title page. Each blue half leather, gilt credit, title, section headings and volume number on spine.
Album size: 28 3/4 x 21 1/2 in. (73 x 54.2cm.) (2)

S. Aubenas, Exhibition catalogue, Des photographes pour l'empereur: Les albums de Napoléon III, Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, 2004, p.163, pl.114 (illus.); p.164, pl.115; p.165, pl.116.

Both volumes, stamped with crowned monogram 'A' and 'Biliothèque de San Donato', were once part of Prince Anatole N. Demidoff's library at Villa San Donato to the North of Florence. Born in St. Petersburg and raised in luxury by his mother Baronne Elisabeth Stroganoff, Prince Anatole (1813-1870) participated in the construction of the railway system between Florence, Livorno and the northern boundaries and in 1840 was granted the title Prince of San Donato by Leopold II. Avid art collector and bibliophile, Anatole amassed a fine collection of Old Master paintings and his library numbered close to 40,000 books.

Vol.I: Saint-Isaac (pls.1-12) and Palais Marie Nicolaïevna (pls.1-14). Vol.II: Palais Impérial de Tsarskoé-Sélo, (pls.1-15); Arsenal de Tsarkoé-Sélo (pl.1-14) and Monument de L'Empereur Nicolas I er (pls.1-5).

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis