Vasily Ruban's Book on Shein's Campaign against Azov, 1773

Published in St Petersburg in 1773, this book tells the story of the most celebrated event in the history of Azov: the capture of the Turkish fortress by Russian troops in 1696. Its title runs to several lines: the campaign of the boyar Alexei Semyonovich Shein, voivode of the Great Regiment, against Azov, the capture of Azov and the small fort of Lyutik, the triumphant return of the army to Moscow, a detailed account of the military events, a list of commanders by name, the strength of the troops and the rewards they received.

Peter I's second Azov campaign ended on 19 July 1696: the Turkish garrison left the fortress, and the next day Lyutik, at the mouth of the northern arm of the Don, surrendered. The land army was commanded by Shein, who for this victory became the first Russian generalissimo. On 30 September the troops made a ceremonial entry into Moscow. The book was published by Vasily Ruban (1742–1795), an Enlightenment-era writer and poet, journal publisher and translator.

The Azov Museum counts this edition among the literature on the history of the Don and the Azov region that is especially valuable to it. According to the catalogue, the book was printed at the press of the Naval Cadet Corps; the binding is made of pasteboard and leather with tooling.