Russia (1842)
This copy presented by a survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade (Lieutenant William Gordon)
Author
Publisher
Printing Details
First edition. Hardback, bound in black cloth with gilt titling to spine. 23 × 14.5cm, iv + 530pp, large folding map.
This copy was presented by a survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade, with an inscription (in the recipient's hand) reads "William Alexandra Last, Presented by Colenol Gordon, 16th Lancers after the Charge of Balaklava, 25th October 1854, Battle of Alma, Fought 20th September 1854". The inscription is in young master Last's hand. There was only one Gordon at the Charge of the Light Brigade, and that was Lieutenant William Gordon of the 17th Lancers. He was born in 1830 and was seriously injured at Balaklava but survived to serve and fight in India in 1858/1859. He retired his commission in 1864. He died in 1906. The full list of serving officers at Balaklava show no other officer called Gordon, and the slight confusion over 16th or 17th Lancers is probably down to William Last when he wrote who had presented the book.
This book is a single volume edition of Johann Georg Kohl's larger works on Russia. This English edition was condensed into one volume and leaves out the maps and plans on account of cost (as per the publisher's note). The book describes the life, architecture, culture, religion, etc in St Petersburg, Moscow, the German Provinces on the Baltic, Riga, South Russia and the Crimea, the Steppes of Southern Russia, and the Interior of Russia. The book is illustrated with a large fold out map of Russia.
Condition
Fair condition. The black cloth is heavily rubbed and bumped, the inner binding looks like it has been repaired and glued in some places and the pages are tanned with some edgewear throughout. The map has one small taped repair to the margin, has tanning and some loss to the margins. However, it remains in strong readable condition, and with an interesting provenance.
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Price
£80.00
