1917 RUSSIAN OPERA SOLOIST ALBUM, large format, extremely scarce - Essential!

Description

From my personal library, the single most important picture book of opera singers produced in Imperial Russia.  The book dates to 1917 and shows everyone of importance who was a professional opera singer in Russia at that time.   The extremely scarce 61 page volume measures 12" x 16" closed.  Originally soft bound, our example was bound in green linen at the time with the original cover tipped onto the cover with a further tipped on photographic gravure of legendary bass Feodor Chaliapin.  Further, there are 10 tipped on matte photo gravures scattered throughout the book mounted on heavy artist's stock. Nine of Chaliapin in roles including Boris Godounov, Mefistofele (shown), Don Quichotte, Mephistopheles (Faust) and the Mad Miller in Rusalka.  The tenth is of soprano Lydia Lipkowska which is also shown.  The book which is in Cyrillic was published by a St. Petersburg Newspaper and all photographic pages other than the plate are on heavy glossy stock.  The book is divided in sections including The Bolshoi, the Mariinsky, Zimin, and a section called Musical Drama. (Mamontov singers are included scattered throughout) Each page either has a variety of singers in costume, or is focused on a number of the important singers.  There are also many large 2 page complete page spreads of scene tableaus of various operas.
Some of the singers include: Andreev, Andreeva-Delmas, Bolshakov, Bolvska, Bosse, Brian, Chaliapin, Davidov, Damaev, Davidova, Dolina, Ermolenko, Ershov, Medea Figner, Isachenko, Karakash, Kastorsky, Kommisaryevich, Kuznetsova, Labinsky, Lipkowska, Losev, Markovitch,  Matsuev, Mosjoukhine, Neshdanova, Nikolaeva, Olenin, Petrova, Petrova-Zba netzeva, Petrenko, Polakova, Rostovsky, Shevelev, Slavina, A. Simrnov, D. Smirnov, Sobinov, Speransky, Tartakov, Vitting, Tcherkaska, Van Brandt, Zaporovitch
Some of the conductors include: Aslanov,
Malko, Napravnik
There are also stage directors as well.
The book is in remarkable condition given its' size and age. It was intended to be an annual production, however, with the Russian Revolution, this was the only edition issued.
We waited 20 years to get our hands on an example when we were collectors.
There are no other copies offered on line here, Abe, or any dealer website it is that scarce.  If you collect Russian opera photographs, or autographs, this book can help you identify roles, as there are many photographs you will not find anywhere else.  For that collector, it is a gold mine!
This is a larger piece and will cost a little more to ship.
Harmonie Autographs and Music, Inc
Appraiser and Music Antiquarian
New York, NY
All Autographs Guaranteed Authentic!