June 12, 2009 auction house Christie's will hold in New York trading, which will be offered a unique selection of festive illustrated edition from the collection of Paul and Marianne Gurari. According to the level of work put to tender this may be a landmark auction of all that ever took place in New York in this category.

Among the top lots of special attention rare album Coronation Elizabeth Romanova, a Russian empress, daughter of Peter I, dated 1744 year ( estimeyt 30-40 thousand dollars ).

album Coronation of Empress Elizabeth ( «The detailed description of the solemn orders prosperous vshestviya regnant in the city of Moscow and the holy coronation of Her Imperial Majesty's August Vsepresvetleyshey of Great Gosudaryni Empress Elizabeth Samoderzhitsy All-Russia») was printed at the Imperial Academy of Sciences in 1744.

Elizaveta Petrovna Romanova (1709-1761) came to power in late 1741 as a result of a palace coup. Celebrations at the vosshestviya to the throne continued from February 28 to April 25, 1742. The very ceremony of coronation was held on 28 March. The two festivals were held with unprecedented roskoshestvom. The event was attended by the ambassadors of almost all European countries and representatives of the Russian aristocracy.

Album, issued in 1744, is considered one of the most luxurious of Russian editions of XVIII - XIX centuries. Despite the dating, of the Russian edition, as well as editions in German, French and Latin continued until 1746. The first Russian edition was issued in the amount of 600 copies. Additional copies of the same in 1744 amounted to 50 copies. The next year was even released 900 copies.

Source: Press Releases Christie's