Russie

réf. FRE120 — 8 pp. Ca. 25.4 × 17.8 cm 10 × 7 in. Original wrappers. Ownership stamp of Fyodor Aleksandrovich Vitberg 1846–1919 on the front wrapper; bookseller’s stamp on the rear wrapper. Some soiling to the wrappers and a very small tear to the front wrapper. Overall a very good copy. First and only edition. In Russian. A contemporary account of the reception given to Gustavus Vasa Fox 1821–1883 the first U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy and a leading Union naval administrator during the Civil War. Fox travelled to Russia to deliver a congressional resolution congratulating Emperor Alexander II 1818–1881 on his escape from assassination. Approved on 16 May 1866 the resolution explicitly linked the emperor’s survival with emancipation congratulating “the twenty millions of serfs” who owed him their freedom. The reception took place on 5 August Old Style 17 August New Style at the Assembly of the Nobility’s summer residence in Countess Stroganoff’s villa. A contemporary account reproduced in American diplomatic correspondence described the dinner as “one of the most brilliant festivals offered to them.” Russian enthusiasm for the American visitors also recalled the hospitality extended to Russian naval squadrons in New York Boston and San Francisco in 1863. Fox’s mission combined diplomatic ceremony with a demonstration of American naval technology: the accompanying Miantonomoh was the first monitor to cross the Atlantic. This copy belonged to the Russian writer bibliographer and collector of historical documents Fyodor Aleksandrovich Vitberg who was one of the authors of Russian Biographical Dictionary. No copies located in WorldCat. unknown