Russia

Offered for sale by Adam Langlands of 'Shadowrock Rare Books' - for more information please contact him via email at [email protected] 

Wallace D. MACKENZIE (1841-1919).

Russia. New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1877. Octavo (8 5/8 x 5 3/4in; 219 x 146mm). Pp. [i-ii, i-]iv-xiii[-xiv, 1-]2-620. 2 folding colored maps.  (Light overall toning.) Original light brown cloth, blocked in black and gold (very light surface soiling [see images]). Provenance: Eleanor C. Morris (Pelham, NY, inscription dated 1877).

Excellent copy of the first edition published in the United States. The English two-volume edition was published in the same year – the texts are the same. The US publishers were able to issue the work in one volume by adopting the simple expedient of using smaller type with less space between the lines.

“In March, 1870, I arrived for the first time in St. Petersburg. My intention was to spend merely a few months in Russia, but I unexpectedly found so many interesting subjects of study that I remained for nearly six years — till December, 1875. During that period my winters were spent for the most part in St. Petersburg, Moscow , and Yaroslaff, whilst the summer months were generally devoted to wandering about the country and collecting information from the local authorities, landed proprietors, merchants, priests, and peasantry. Since my return to England I have kept up a constant correspondence with numerous Russian friends, so that I have been able to follow closely what has taken place in the short interval.” (Author’s preface).