The Literary Gazette. N.22, 26 July 1856 (page 524)

   Monsieur Nikolai Makaroff, a musical amateur in St. Petersburg, who devotes his attention principally to the guitar, has just offered two prizes, one of 200 silver roubles, and one of 125, for the best compositions for that instrument, and similar sums as prizes for the best constructed guitars, which must be large, of full size, and with ten strings. The compositions and instruments for competition must be forwarded before the end of October, 1856, addressed to the Imperial Russian Embassy in Brussels.