ALEXANDRE II (1818-1881) Tsar de Russie - Lot 150

Lot 150
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ALEXANDRE II (1818-1881) Tsar de Russie - Lot 150
ALEXANDRE II (1818-1881) Tsar de Russie [Regulations and rules concerning peasants freed from servile dependence] [in Russian]. Saint Petersburg, 1861. In-folio, green morocco, large plate formed by four ornamental cold-stamped spandrels on the boards with cold-stamped title on the upper board, smooth spine and cold-stamped thread, first cover plate (Russian binding of the time). Extremely rare first edition of the act proclaiming the abolition of serfdom in Russia. After six years of intense negotiations, Alexander II (1818- 1881) promulgated on March 5, 1861, despite a recalcitrant nobility, the Manifesto of Emancipation of Serfs which proclaimed the abolition of serfdom in the Russian Empire. The oukase (edict), written by the Metropolitan of Moscow, Philaret, regulates the legal status of peasants, who become "free rural subjects": they can no longer be sold, bought or exchanged, they are free in their private life and obtain the right to exercise a trade, to own property, the choice to marry, etc. For 23 million enslaved men and women throughout Russia, this act marked the end of the peasant subjugation that Gogol had strongly denounced in one of his masterpieces, Dead Souls (1842). The manifesto was read in all the churches of Russia and Alexander II was given the nickname of Tsar Osvoboditel, i.e. the "liberating tsar". Victim of an attempt on his life, Alexander II died on March 13, 1881, having been unable to grant a constitution to his people. His murder was seen as a revenge of nobles. It is interesting to note that the promulgation of this important act in the history of Russia took place a few weeks before the beginning of the Civil War in America, at the time when the United States was addressing the issue of slavery. A perfect copy in a decorated morocco binding of the time, executed in Russia. It contains four additional leaves (compared to the one in the Russian National Library), including an Opinion of the State Council and the decree of Alexander II emancipating the muzhiks (Russian peasants). Provenance : Dominique de Villepin (II, 2013, n°398).
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