Autographed magazine of Emperor Alexander III

Alexander III — Emperor of All Russia, Tsar of Poland and Grand Duke of Finland. A conservative who carried out counter-reforms, as well as Russification of the national territories. Under his rule, Russia did not wage a single war. He concluded a Franco-Russian alliance. For his calm foreign policy during his reign, he was nicknamed the Peacemaker. All of Alexander III's internal reforms were aimed at reversing the liberalization that occurred during his father's reign. The new emperor believed that maintaining loyalty to Russian Orthodoxy, autocracy and nationality would save Russia from revolutionary unrest.

L'Illustration was a French weekly magazine published from 1843 to 1944. The founder of the magazine was Edouard Charton, the first issue was published on March 4, 1843, the weekly became the first illustrated newspaper in France, and then, after 1906, the first international illustrated magazine. According to the researchers, the magazine defended Christian values and was Russophile during the Franco-Russian union. It is known that this magazine was systematically delivered to the Russian Imperial house.

A lot of magazines marked by three emperors — Alexander II, Alexander III and Nicholas II - was presented at the 2018 Christie's auction.

It is noteworthy that from the very beginning of its existence, in the second half of the XIX century, L'Illustration attracted the best draughtsmen of that time, lured the best engravers of Paris, contributing to the popularization of woodcuts due to its increasingly widespread distribution

In 1891, L'Illustration became the first French newspaper to publish a photograph. In 1907, L'Illustration was the first to publish a color photograph.