Poezdka po Kitaiskoi granitse ot Altaia do Tarbagatai (v zhurnale 'Russkiy Vesnik')

A fascinating and incredibly rare travelogue through Eastern Kazakhstan written by a woman. Although published anonymously the account is written by Lydia Poltoratskaia, wife of the Governor General of Semipalatinsk (now Semei), Vladimir Poltoratsky. In 1867, before he even became governor in the region, Poltoratsky travelled across the Kazakh steppe and Tian Shan mountain range. When the family moved to Kazakhstan, he made annual trips along the Russian-Chinese border in his capacity as governor, often accompanied by his wife.

This account focuses on the Altai region, travelling east along the Irtysh river, through to the Upper Bukhtarma Valley and Belukha Mountain, down to Lake Marakol and then further south towards Lake Zaysan. Both Lydia and her husband were passionate about the region and could speak Kazakh. Vladimir was a keen hunter (and an excellent shot which gained the local's respect) whilst Lydia was an experienced horsewoman, once declaring, 'there's nothing more exciting than flying across the steppe on a good horse'.

At her husband's request, Lydia began to take photographs on their trips for use in his cartography work and ethnographic research. Her endeavours (which required a lot of equipment and effort on expeditions)proved to be very successful and between 1873 and 1874 she produced a multi-volume 'Turkestan Album' in St Petersburg. These photographs were exhibited in Paris and in 1881 she received a Silver Medal from the Imperial Geographical Society.

This copy almost certainly came to Veste Coburg around 1887 (along with other Russian books) with the former Grand Duchess Maria Aleksandrovna, eldest daughter of Tsar Alexander II, who was married to Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, son of Queen Victoria. He inherited the Dukedom of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from his paternal uncle.

First edition (issue 93, June 1871), 8vo (21 x 14 cm); contemporary boards, recently rebacked with calf and raised bands, title in gilt in English of 'The Russian Chinese border'; original wrapper bound in, a very good copy.