Russian Military CostumeInquarto, (c3.1 1.58 9x2 2 –4 .934 cm). Manuscript title and 36 watercolours with manuscript cap...

Lot 93
2 7003 000
Russian Military CostumeInquarto, (c3.1 1.58 9x2 2 –4 .934 cm). Manuscript title and 36 watercolours with manuscript captions.Contemporary marbled board, recently rebacked with calf; corners slightly bumped.A fine, unusual collection of watercolours of Russian military costumes - from the library of a prominent costume book collector andauthor of a famous bibliography.The 36 watercolours, carefully painted in bright colours on a slightly glossy paper, depict generals, officers and soldiers from differentRussian regiments standing with their weapons, on horseback, or occasionally in action. They include representatives of the ChevalierGuard Regiment, Grenadier Regiment, Pavlovsky Regiment, Dragoons, Uhlans, Hussars, Circassians, Ural Cossacks and His I perialMajesty’s Convoy among the others.Provenance : Hilaire and Meyer Hiler (book label to upper pastedown).Hilaire Hiler (1898-1966) was an American artist, who worked in Europe andUnited States as a muralist, jazz musician, costume and set designer, and author.He was also an avid costume book collector, being rumoured to own one of the world’s best costume book libraries. In 1939 jointly withhis father, Meyer Hiler, he published the Bibliography of Costume, which indexes some 8,400 works.