According to Pieere Apraxine, "the majority of portraits are of men in the government, army, or at court ( > 50). There are 12 ports. of members of Imperial family, and 6 of figures of the Church. There are ports. of Academicians and professors, writers, and theatre people : 7 ports. of ballet dancers (including M.C. Petipa). There are also ports. of Russian "types", alone or in groups (Georgians, Mongolians, etc.)."
Content: 128 albumen carte de visite-size prints, mounted, each with caption. Apparently issued in monthly fascicules. The only cover preserved is dated February, 1865.Title page illustration by Adolf Charlemagne. Bookplate of Grand Duke Vladimir Aleksandrovich, with his initials on cover.
Ownership: Bookplate of Grand Duke Vladimir Aleksandrovich, with his initials on cover.