166 - COMMISSION IMPERIALE ARCHEOLOGIQUE DE ST PETERSBOURG (Ludolf Stephani - Sergei Stroganov): RECEUIL D’ ANTIQUITES DE LA SCYTHIE - ATLAS. ST. PETERSBOURG, 1866-1872

COMMISSION IMPERIALE ARCHEOLOGIQUE DE ST PETERSBOURG (Ludolf Stephani - Sergei Stroganov): RECEUIL D’ ANTIQUITES DE LA SCYTHIE - ATLAS. ST. PETERSBOURG, 1866-1872 First edition. ELEPHANT FOLIO, in the original publishers paper covers rubbed, cover of 1866 in French, cover of 1872 in Russian (Antiquities of Herodotian Scythia), paper covers detached, both publications in contemporary Russian portfolio rubbed, complete (without the text volumes published separately): title in French, title in Russian and 46 giant plates in total (including all supplements ,all plates present) second part has an additional title in Russian, some edges frayed, few minor wear, twenty (20) plates with fine chromolithography, overall in very good condition. A monumental pioneering work on Greek art and its global influence, especially in ancient Scythia in the northern Black Sea area. It serves as the documentation of the major 19th century contemporary discoveries of Scythian royal burial mounds in the northern Pontic coast. A massive driver for the project was comparing the physical discoveries against the historical accounts by Herodotus whose Histories described Scythian burial customs. The publication is famous for its massive impressive Atlas featuring exquisite highly accurate colored lithographed plates. These plates meticulously cataloged weaponry, armor, everyday implements and the hoards of Scythian gold uncovered by the Russian Imperial archaeologists It is very richly illustrated with fine early chromolithographs and highly important for the understanding of the ancient Greek Art, as many of the discoveries forged by Greek goldsmiths working in the Greek colonies of the Black sea specifically tailored for the Scythian elite. This scientific Russian publication by the Imperial Academy of St Petersburg had a print run of 150 copies. Extremely rare.