St.-Pétersbourg, Privately published, 1884-1897. Nine volumes in eight. 4to (25.5 x 18.1 cm). Titles, half-titles, 3492 pp.; 130 plates of which 76 finely hand-coloured, and one tinted; four maps. [I (1884) [i], 181 pp., 10 plates (I-IV finely hand-coloured), and colour-printed map; II (1885) [bound with I] [i], 262 pp., 16 plates (II-IV, VII, XIII-XVI finely hand-coloured); III (1887) [i], 419 pp., 17 plates (VI, XIII-XIV hand-coloured), two colour-printed maps (one on p. 241]; IV (1890) xvii, 577 pp., 22 plates (I-XXI, A; of which III-V, XI-XIII finely hand-coloured and A tinted), one rose-tinted table on p. 146, and a rose-tinted map on p. 196. In rear pocket a large, folded map (which is usually lacking!); V (1889) [i], 248 pp., 12 plates (V, VIII-XII finely hand-coloured; VI (1892) 701 pp., 16 plates (I-IV, VI-XVI finely hand-coloured); VII (1893) lvi, 658 pp., 23 plates (20 hand-coloured [I-III are always plain]); VIII (1901) [i], xiv, 602 pp., 34 full colour plates [numbered XXIV-LVII] [in modern reprint, as always]; IX (1897) [i], 367 pp., 14 finely hand-coloured plates]. Later uniform half calf over marbled boards. Spines with four raised, gilt-bordered bands and gilt author's name and Volume number.

A beautifully illustrated work and one of the rarest publications on butterflies. Even single volumes are very rare, and of volume 8 only about ten original copies exist, since most were destroyed in a fire. This set comprises volumes 1-7, and 9 in original and volume 8 in reprint (not illustrated on our site), bound in black buckram with gilt title on spine and front board. The work contains contributions by several leading entomologists of the late 19th century, including Christoph, Snellen, Standfuss, Staudinger, and others, and including Romanoff himself. Grand Duke Nicholas Mikhailovich Romanoff (1859-1919) was the only naturalist of the Czar family. He was murdered by the Bolsheviks. The various contributions here are mainly written in German and French, and many new species are introduced. Volume IV forms a single, large monograph, titled Le Pamir et sa fauna lépidoptérologique and is written by G. Groum-Grshimaïlo, who provided several other contributions. Included is the often lacking large, folded map. All volumes are complete. Volume II is combined with Volume I, but this is not indicated on the spine. Plate A in Vol. IV and I in Vol. V partly toned, large map with tear at one fold; some light spotting, otherwise a fine, clean set. All volumes were printed in very low numbers, so they are rarely seen in the market. Junk, Bibliotheca Lepidopterologica, 2268; Nissen ZBI, 4678. In Horn-Schenkling II listed under the various contributors.