Atlas of the Crusades

St Petersburg, Russia, 1823. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Near Fine/No Jacket. 4to - over 9¾ - 12" tall. ATLAS OF THE CRUSADES translated by Ivan Grigoryevich Butovsky, published in 1823 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Full green morocco leather boards gilt stamped with the Imperial Romanov eagle on both front and back cover. Gilt tooled spine, gilt tooled and blind stamped borders. Front pastedown bears a paper label from the Pavlovsk Palace Library. This is a slim volume of only eight pages - title page plus seven maps. All edges gilt. Each of the eight pages bear an embossed device with the letters P and M, signifying Grand Duke Paul & Grand Duchess Maria. The seven map plates are: Asia Minor Plan of Antioch Plan of Jerusalem Christian Dominions in Asia Plan of Alexandria Plan of Constantinople Egypt Size: 10" tall, 13.5" wide. Condition is near fine. There is a faint scuff on the front cover. Front hinge starting, but the joints are sound. Paper on one map has slight wrinkle. Small foxing spot on leaf of title page. Maps engraved and printed by the military topographic department in St. Petersburg. Publisher not identified. Published in 1823 during the reign (1801-1825) of Alexander I, who had a great interest in the Holy Land, and who was the son of Grand Duke Paul and Grand Duchess Maria. The Pavlovsk Palace is in St Petersburg, and was built by Catherine the Great for her son Grand Duke Paul. Ivan Grigoryevich Butovsky originated from Russian nobility. He was born in 1785 in Ukraine. He served in the military, including at the battle of Austerlitz, but he is known as a journalist and translator. He worked for years translating the abovementioned History of the Crusades by Michaud from the French. I have found no other example, including a search of WorldCat. This small collection of maps was probably printed for the use of the Imperial family, and I believe there are no other copies except this one.