About “Velvet Book”
The Velvet Book was an official register of genealogies for Russia's most noble families. It was bound in red velvet, which gave it its name. The book was compiled during the regency of Sophia between 1682 and 1687. This occurred after Tsar Fyodor III abolished the old system of ranks called mestnichestvo. At that time, all the ancient pedigree books were burned to stop conflicts between rival aristocratic families. The Velvet Book was created to replace the lost records and establish a new system of noble lineage. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)
Some summaries adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.