Serious historians of the book may recall that Catherine the Great was among the Russian rulers who continued the formation of a world-class imperial library and purchased, upon his death, the personal collection of Voltaire. Less well-known is that Catherine drafted important legislation herself based on that collection. Professor William Butler will explore two works in particular that she produced – one of which brought her world renown and the other which introduced the Common Law to Russia. 

William E. Butler is Chairman of the Fellowship of American Bibliophilic Societies, and member of the Grolier Club, National Union of Bibliophiles (Moscow). 

Sponsored by the Princeton Bibliophiles & Collectors.