[ALEXANDER (William), DADLEY (John, ill.). The Costume of the Russian Empire. Costumes of the Russian Empire. London, William Miller, 1803. Large in-4, [9] introductory f., followed by 73 accompanied plates, each accompanied by a leaf of notice in English on the recto and French on the verso. Contemporary English binding in long-grained red morocco, highly ornate spine titled, wide gilt and cold decoration framing the boards. First edition of this fine study of Russian costume, illustrated with seventy-three plates engraved by John Dadley in the first edition. The plates depict the traditional male and female costumes of the various ethnic groups that made up the Russian people in the early 19th century, including Finns, Lapps, Estonians, Samoyeds, Kalmyks and Tatars. The bilingual French-English text is by William Alexander. Binding heavily rubbed at the spines and headpieces. The joints are also worn, especially the lower joints which show the cardboard. Corners dulled. But the binding is solid, the interior very fresh, rare foxing, the engravings have sometimes left ghostly shadows on the leaf facing them. (Colas, 702)