Les Solennités du Saint Couronnement

The French version of Nicholas II's coronation album, with 396 pp. of text, including a survey of the coronations of Nicholas's predecessors and a detailed description of the activities leading up to the coronation, illustrated throughout with portraits, facsimiles, reproductions of engravings, and decorative initials, followed by an unpag. supplement containing reproductions of photographs of the Russian and international nobility and dignitaries present at the event, along with facsimiles of opulent banquet menus, church floor plans, and programs for coronation activities, some chromolithographs printed in brilliant colors, some folding. Lg. folio. Newer green cloth boards with original medal portrait medallion affixed to front cover, gilt edges. Saint Petersburg (Expédition Pour la Confection des Papiers de l'Etat) 1899. Nicholas II was coronated on May 26, 1896. As with every coronation in Russia, the festivities began with a grand procession into Moscow before the coronation ceremony and crowning at the Dormition Cathedral. Later came a large ceremonial banquet and operas, balls, fireworks, and other celebrations. This album is a lavish commemoration of the coronation of the last Tsar of Russia. As of February 2017, WorldCat locates four holdings of the French version in North American institutions.