RUSSES ET FRANCAIS
Satirical novelty pamphlet marking the Russian diplomatic visit to Toulon, France during the formation of the Franco-Russian Alliance, a key development in the lead up to World War I.
Very good.
Price: $1,250.00
RUSSES ET FRANCAIS
"J'ai tant fêté l'arrivée des Russes, que je ne peux plus tenir debout."
In the late 1880s and early 1890s, Germany allied with Italy and broke its alliance with Russia, leading Russia to seek an alliance with France. The Franco-Russian Alliance formed after two diplomatic visits, first to Kronstadt and then to Toulon.
This book depicts a series of conversations between people commenting on the Russians' arrival at Toulon: a Frenchman and a Russian meeting again after sharing a drink in Kronstadt; a Frenchman swaying with a bottle of wine captioned [in translation], "I celebrated the arrival of the Russians so much that I can no longer stand"; a German bragging to an Italian (with stereotypical names) that "I would eat them in two mouthfuls, the French and the Russians," while the Italian replies, "I'm not that greedy, me, I'd be happy with a plate of macaroni." The face printed on the interior of each wrapper is visible throughout – each leaf has a head-shaped whole cut out so that all the figures are connected with the same face.
As shifting alliances created more unease, Great Britain joined the Franco-Russian Alliance, forming the Triple Entente: the famous "entangled alliances" that led to the First World War. Scarce: no holdings recorded in OCLC, and no auction records.
The Object
Nancy: E. Ferry, [circa 1893]. 6.75'' x 4.25''. Original side-stiched, hand-colored printed wrappers. Illustrated with hand-colored wood engravings throught. [12] pages, each with a head-size hole as issued. Repaired closed tears on wrappers and one internal leaf, spine subtly repaired. A bit of soiling, but overall clean with vivid coloring.
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