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Auction: 7018 - Dr R Ferrari English Crowns, R Wilson Scottish Coins, A Louise Irish Coins, K MacKenzie Ottoman Coins & Other Propertie
Lot: 677

Russia, Nicholas I, Opening of the Observatory at Poulkovo 1839, bronze medal, 65mm., by H.Gube, bare head of Nicholas I right, H.GUBE FECIT on truncation, Russian titles around, rev, view of the Observatory building within wide border decorated with the twelve signs of the zodiac (Hoof Schoevaert 499), with uniface gilt clichées (2) of the obverse, a similar portrait, but signed in script on the truncation and with French legend around, extremely fine, rare (3) Estimate £ 100-150 The new buildings of the famous Observatory at Poulkovo were designed by A.Brullo. The observatory, built on Imperial land twelve miles south of St Petersbourg, was the most advanced of its time and greatly influenced all subsequent observatories in Europe and The United States. It has maintained this pre-eminence, and is still the principle observatory for the Russian Accademy of Science, though the name Poulkovo is probably more familiar to non-Russians bacause it is also the site of the main International Airport of St Petersbourg.

Sold for
£480