CHOPIN JEAN MARIE (1796-1871) Russie. Paris: Firmin Didot Freres, Editeurs, 1838. Two volumes, octavo. 21.5 x 13.5 x 3.5 cm. First edition. in French.

Vol. 1. [4], 384 pp.; 5 pp. of maps, 66 pp. of illustrations; Vol. 2. [4], 385–672, [6], 32, 48, 144 pp.; 4 pp. of maps, 87 pp. of illustrations. A richly illustrated edition containing numerous maps and engravings depicting landscapes of Russia, architectural monuments, peoples in national dress, Russian monarchs, and others. In two contemporary half-leather bindings. Gilt and blind tooling on the spines, marbled paper on the boards. In good condition. Wear to the bindings, minor losses of paper on the upper cover, a corner of the blank margin of the half-title trimmed (Vol. 1), minor soiling, foxing. First edition. Jean-Marie Chopin (1796–1871) was a French artist, ethnographer, and literary scholar; a researcher of the Caucasus and the personal secretary and librarian to Prince Alexander Borisovich Kurakin, the Russian envoy to the French court. The work was published in the famous series by the Didot brothers, consisting of several dozen volumes, ‘L'Univers pittoresque’ [The Picturesque Universe]. The maps depict the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Pacific Ocean, as well as the connection between Asia and North America. The engravings portray historical figures (Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, etc.), cities (Moscow, Saint Petersburg, etc.), architectural monuments, features of flora and fauna, as well as folk costumes and types.