1 / 12
two old books sitting on top of each other on a white surfacean old book opened to show the inside of itan old book with a brown cover sitting on top of a white surfacetwo old books sitting on top of each other on a tableportrait of catherine ii of alexandria, emperor of francean old book with a picture of a man on itan open book sitting on top of a wooden table next to a white wallan old engraving of a portrait of a man in a suitan open book with a picture of a cat sitting on top of itan open book that is sitting on a tablea picture of a book with a picture of a man on ittwo old books are sitting on top of each other on a white surface
KÂ- MONDO / KAPANDJI MORHANGE

110 - [RUSSIA] [CASTERA, Jean-Henri]. The Life of Catherine II, Em…
See original version (French)

Estimate €150 - €200
Sale commission
Description
[RUSSIA] [CASTERA, Jean-Henri]. The Life of Catherine II, Empress of Russia. With six portraits engraved in intaglio. First edition of the Empress’s biography, published shortly after her death, by a French diplomat who was a frequent visitor to the imperial court. Paris, Buisson, Year V (1797), 2 in-8 volumes, each bound in brown speckled full calfskin, smooth spine decorated with gilt garlands and fleurons, title label in beige leather and volume number in black leather, cold-stamped fillet framing the covers, gilt roulette with cups and caps, edges yellow speckled with red. 3 unnumbered folios, IV (preface, notice) and 427 pages; 3 unnumbered folios and 467 pages. 6 engraved portraits. Slight scuffing to the binding; the top cap is missing and the corners are worn on volume 2; scattered foxing. First edition illustrated with 6 intaglio portraits engraved by Tardieu: Catherine II, Peter III, Grégoire Orloff, Stanislas-Auguste Poniatowski, Paul I and Potemkin. Jean-Henri Castéra (1749–1838), a diplomat under Louis XVI, was one of the historiographers at the Imperial Court of Russia. This biography was published anonymously shortly after the death of Catherine II in 1796. A great success, the work was reprinted many times and translated into several languages. A fine copy.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale Miscellaneous Books
Auction location
Auction time 07/06/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like