[SAMARCANDE]. The Mosques of Samarkand. Fascicule I: Gour-Emir. Saint Petersburg, Expedition for the Preparation of State Papers, 1905. Broadside (76 x 55 cm), leaves, illustrated flap folder, publisher's printed half cloth portfolio with corners. Rare and sought-after first edition of this monograph on the Gur Emir, Tamerlane's mausoleum in Samarkand, published by the Imperial Russian Archaeological Commission. This first fascicle is the only one published. The text is printed in Russian and French on two columns. The work includes 18 magnificent plates in broadsheet format, including 3 double-page spreads and 11 in colour, drawn from life by A. Stchusseff, P. Pokrichekine and A. Minenko. Some very slight foxing, tears to the cover but not missing.