Libraries and Society: The unique exhibits related to the military history of Russia are presented at the exhibition in the Russian State Library

The Russian State Library held an exhibition dedicated to the well-known collector and bibliophile, an expert on the history of Russian army Alexander Makarov. The exhibition is open from 6 to 19 October 2016 and is dedicated to the 125th anniversary of his birth.

His collection Alexander Makarov gathered more than forty years, proved himself not only as a great lover of books, but also as rare connoisseur and promoter of the history of the Russian army. For advice to him historians, writers, artists, museum professionals treated many times, and in the 60s he even advised on military uniforms to create films "Comrade Arseny" and "We, the Russian people".

The exhibition, in addition to the documents related to the collector himself, his collecting activities presents unique materials related to the history of the Russian army and Russian military past, many of which are shown for the first time.

Among these publications are documentary material times of Peter I - the founder of the Russian regular army and navy, unique color portrait "of the first Russian soldier Sergey Leontiev of the son of Bukhvostov", promoted to this rank by Peter I, publication on the history of the regiments of the Russian army, military training institutions and bodies of military administration of pre-revolutionary Russia, uniforms, materials related to the Imperial Russian military-historical society.

The exposition also includes publications of the time of the World War I, February and October revolutions of 1917, the Civil War and the Great Patriotic War. Military history of Russia was captured in books, periodicals, postcards and posters complement the regimental badges, commemorative medals table, and the Order of the elements of the pre-revolutionary Russian military clothing and ammunition.

Alexander Makarov library numbers more than 5 thousand volumes and a collection of medals, award and commemorative medals, regimental insignia – more than 1.2 thousand units of storage. In addition, the unique collection contains postcards, posters, portraits of Russian military leaders, as well as the various elements of Russian military clothing and ammunition pre-revolutionary Russia. After the death of Makarov, according to the will, the collection has been transferred for storage to the V. I. Lenin State Library.