Russian Military Costume

Russian Military Costume France, c. 1892 – 94 Quarto (31.5 x 24.3 cm). Manuscript title and 36 watercolours with manuscript captions. Contemporary marbled board, recently rebac- ked with calf; corners slightly bumped. A ne, unusual collection of watercolours of Russian military costumes - from the library of a prominent costume book collector and author of a famous bibliography. The 36 watercolours, carefully painted in bright colours on a slightly glossy paper, depict generals, of cers and soldiers from different Russian regiments standing with their weapons, on horseback, or occasionally in action. They include representatives of the Chevalier Guard Regiment, Grenadier Regi- ment, Pavlovsky Regiment, Dragoons, Uhlans, Hussars, Circassians, Ural Cossacks and His Imperial Majesty’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 and United 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 with his father, Meyer Hiler, he published the Bibliography of Costume, which indexes some 8,400 works.