an old book sitting on top of a table next to a pile of pictures
COLLIN DU BOCAGE

150 - FERSMAN, Alexandre Evgenevitch. Russia’s Treasure of Diamond…
See original version (French)

Estimate €6,000 - €7,000
Description
FERSMAN, Alexandre Evgenevitch. Russia’s Treasure of Diamonds and Precious Stones People’s Commissariat for Finance, Moscow, 1925. Folio format, volumes 1 to 4, 98 unbound plates, portfolio with flaps and laces, and original sleeves. Part 1: Text booklet of 32 pp. and plates I (1) to XXV (25). Part 2: Text booklet of 25 pp. and plates XXVI (26) to XLIX (49). Part 3: Text booklet of 30 pp. and plates LI (51) to LXXV (75). Part 4: Text booklet of 37 pp. and plates LXXVI (76) to C (100). (Plates XIV (14) in Part 1 and L (50) in Part 2 are missing; foxing and water stains; small tears). Now extremely rare, this volume is today regarded as an essential reference work for historians, collectors and experts, as it preserves the memory of numerous imperial jewels that have since disappeared or been scattered across the globe. The book features several hundred exceptional pieces, including the Grand Imperial Crown, the sceptre and the imperial globe, as well as numerous items of jewellery that belonged to the tsars and empresses. Thanks to its photographs and detailed descriptions, it remains an essential source for the study of Russian imperial jewels. Beyond its documentary purpose, this catalogue also served an economic objective: it helped to raise awareness of these treasures abroad at a time when the Soviet Union was seeking foreign currency. In the years that followed, a significant portion of these jewels was sold or dispersed on the international market, with some even being dismantled to recover their precious stones. Expert assessment in collaboration with Edgar Clin. Expert in Russian Art.
See original version (French)
About the sale JEWELLERY
Auction location
Auction time 07/08/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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