Starye Gody ("The Bygone Years"). Complete Set, January 1907 - December 1916, 85 Issues Bound In 28 Volumes + 9 Index Books. Vereshchagin, V. A. (Ed.): Kunstgewerbe -

28 x 19,5 cm. Altogether c. 8,000 pages. Numerous plates and mounted illustations. *A very rare complete run of Starye gody ("The Bygone Years. A Monthly for Collectors of Art and Antiquity"), one of the most important art periodicals in Russian art history. - Starye gody was a monthly journal published in St. Petersburg from 1907 to 1916. The publication addressed topics about art history, architecture and about culture more generally. It described private and public collections of art and antiquities and reported on major auctions and art sales both in Russia and in Europe, for which it often included catalogues and museum guide books. The journal was widely read within Russia's upper classes and was admired for its handsome design and the high quality of its printing reproductions. As the editors saw it as part of their mission to document and preserve the cultural heritage of St. Petersburg, many buildings and works of art are documented in it that have since been lost or destroyed - which is also true for the journal itself. It was discontinued during World War I and after the Revolution its editor, Peter Petrovich Weiner (1879-1931), was repeatedly arrested on counter-revolutionary charges and was executed in 1931. - The 1907 issues are bound separately whereas the rest of the issues are bound in two volumes per year. The supplement booklets containing the indices are enclosed for the years 1907-1915. Most of the original wrappers bound in. - The issues are generally in very good condition, only some the spines and boards slightly worn, especially in the 1907 volumes. Only vol. 1913/2 scuffed and with water damage on the back cover. Inside, however, only slightly dampstained on the last pages. Pages 17-32 in the issue for February 1911 have erroneously been bound to the front of the book, however, no pages are missing. Some pages slightly worn resp. with minimal foxing. Overall, however, the rare set is in good condition. ru Gewicht in Gramm: 55000 Contemporary green half cloth, gilt lettering on spines.