Album of Northern dogs 'Laikas'.

Excellent, complete copy of this rare and beautifully produced publication on husky breeds, 'the first serious work dealing with northern dogs' (Preface, by Leonid Sabaneyev).

This album of striking images of laïkas, or Northern dogs, is drawn from data collected by Shirinskiy-Shihmatov (1862-1927), a passionate bear hunter accross Russia - and also great art collector. 'Being much interested in the natural sagacity and hunting capacity of the laïkas he procured some hundreds of specimens of different varieties and applied himself seriously to their study and breeding.' (Preface)

While the upper cover is in Russian, the text and tables are all in English, and divided in two parts Korelskaya Korel-Laïka; and Zyryanskaya Zirian-Laïka. Interestingly it can be noted that 'all the receipt [sic] is to be employed for the foundation of the leper's colony in the governement of Yacootsk' [Yakutsk]. Dedicated to Grand Duke Nikolay Nikolaevich, another famous princely hunter using Russian hounds.