FROM THE COLLECTION OF VASILY DRUZHININ (1859-1936) SOPIKOV VASILY STEPANOVICH (1765-1818) An Experience of Russian ...

FROM THE COLLECTION OF VASILY DRUZHININ (1859-1936) SOPIKOV VASILY STEPANOVICH (1765-1818) An Experience of Russian bibliography or a Complete dictionary of works and translations printed in the Slavonic and Russian languages from the beginning of the usage of printing presses until 1813; with a Foreword serving as an introduction to this science, completely unknown in Russia, with a history of the beginning and success of printing in Europe in General, and especially in Russia, with notes about ancient rare books and their editions, and with brief extracts from them.
SPb.: in the print. Imp. theatre, 1813-1821. Part 1. 1813. [2], CLII, p. 314; 24х15,5 cm; P. 2 A- D. 1814. - [2], X, 472, [2] p.; 26x17 cm; Part 3: E-N. 1815. - [2], IV, 475, [2] p.; P. 4: O-P. 1816. - [2], 527, [3] C.; H. 5: 1821. - [2], 232 p.; 23x16 cm. Dedication of the author to Emperor Alexander I on Page 1 (Part 1). ‘Slavic Alphabet’ on two pages pasted additionally and not listed in the pagination (Part 1). In five later time typical semi-leather bindings, made in the style of bindings of old time. In a box. Armorial bookplates of V. G. Druzhinin on the
title pages. Pages 249-250 in part 4 containing ‘Radischev list’ were usualy withdrawn by the censors and reprinted. In our copy page 249 contains inscription: ‘Voyage from St. Petersburg to Moscow’ by collegiate councillor Alexander Radishchev; St. Petersburg in writer’s volumes,
1790 - in 8 volumes on 458 p. Rarest, not more than 50 copies.’ P. 250-empty. On p. 181 (Part 4) - ‘Ponomarevsky list’ - the list of re-editions of the poem by Mikhail Kheraskov ‘Vladimir reborn’, the 4th edition of which was printed in the printing house of Ponomarev with comment of Sopikov: ‘The first edition of this book is the best, and the fourth is the worst’.
Vasily Stepanovich Sopikov (1765-1818) was a Russian bookseller and bibliographer. His unique work - unique in the history of Russian prerevolutionary bibliography complete and fully published list of Russian books from the beginning of printing of book publishing until 1813.
Bibliography: Catalogue of the Russian Department. No. 238 (P. 105); N. B. No. 580; Ulianinsky. No. 1411; Ostroglazov. No. 258; Mintslov. No. 212; Sm-Sok. No. 4687; Lesman. No. 2753.
Provenance: Druzhinin Vasily Grigoryevich (1859-1936) - historian, researcher of the Russian old belief adherents, archaeographer,
paleographer, collector of old Russian and old believer manuscripts and icons. Noble origin; from owners Kyshtym mining plants in the Urals. He has composed a unique collection of old believer books (over 40 thousand), manuscripts (about 1,1 thousand), icons, works of Pomeranian copper casting (about 500 items). In 1932-1935 he was in exile in Rostov, after termination of which he had died soon. After his death, the collection of manuscripts was placed into the funds of the Archives of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Druzhinin’s books
were scattered among the libraries of the St. Petersburg Institute of history, the Museum of the history of religion, part of the collection - in Harvard University (USA). The collection of the banned pre-revolutionary publications was handed to the Lenin Institute (the Russian center for keeping and studying of documents of modern history).