Gretch, Nikolai [Elementary Rules of Russian Grammar]. Nachalnye Pravila Russkoi Grammatiki.

Sixth edition.

Sankt-Peterburg, [Nikolai Gretsch], 1838.
8vo, IV, [2], 146, [1] pp., tab.

In contemporary Russian quarter leather, spine lettered and tooled in gilt.
In good condition, extremities lightly rubbed, head and foot spine worn with some minor losses, small loss to marbled paper to rear cover, small hole to last page, light water-staining to pages.

The study of the Russian language began to gain increasing interest towards the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century. However, it was not until 1786 that Russian language instruction was officially included in the curriculum. The first scientific grammar of the Russian language, named 'Russian Grammar', was written by Lomonosov in 1755, but it was not suitable for use as a textbook. At the time, there was no established methodology for teaching the Russian language, and the primary approach was for the teacher to learn some questions while students learned corresponding answers and rules.
In 1804, Russian language instruction was excluded from the curriculum, and students were primarily focused on Latin, Greek, and contemporary European languages. This order remained in place until the late 1820s. The author of the first Russian grammar textbook was Nikolai Gretsch (1787–1867), a grammarian, journalist, editor of magazines such as 'Syn Otechestva' ('Son of the Motherland') and 'Severnaia Pchela' ('Northern Bee') who collaborated with A. Griboyedov, V. Zhukovsky, A. Pushkin, K. Ryleyev and others. Gretsch introduced the Lancasterian system of education into Russia, organized several innovative schools for soldiers, and penned a number of textbooks for them.
In 1827 Gretsch published the first Russian grammar book, which was republished many times and was used until the end of the 1850s. The basis of his teaching method was observation of written language. On the other hand, all grammar topics are developed sequentially with the students’ skills: reading, speaking, and writing. The rejection of Gretsch’s grammars in teaching was connected with the evolution of comparative historical linguistics, new trends in developmental psychology, changes in literary tastes, and the updating and changing of curricula in 1856. Despite this, Gretsch’s grammar had a significant impact on the development of the Russian literary language.

Nice copy.