Easter Egg (1698?) & Easter Bunny (1877?)

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EASTER EGG

A JOURNAL OF THE EMBASSY FROM THEIR MAJESTIES JOHN AND PETER ALEXIEVITZ, EMPERORS OF MUSCOVY, &C. OVER LAND INTO CHINA, THROUGH THE PROVINCES OF USTIUGHA, SIBERIA, DAURI, AND THE GREAT TARTARY, TO PEKING
by Adam Brand
London: D. Brown
1698

   OED went through this book and came away with 18 citations.  The book's title promises a little more than it had--"vodka," "blinis," "mein," and others are not here...This book has OED's first cite for "shaman."
   This book is also useful for "Easter egg," which probably deserves a place in the OXFORD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN FOOD.


Pg. 8:  It is a place of vast Traffick, but especially celebrated for its Trade in _Muscovia_-Leather.

Pg. 13:  ...it being an ancient Custom in Russia to present one another not only on _Easter_-day, but for 14 days after, with painted Eggs, of which you see great Quantities ready boil'd, to be sold on all the Corners of the Streets, no body, of what Quality, Degree, Age or Sex, daring to refuse either the Eggs or the Kiss, which is always given as you present the Eggs.
(OED has 1804 for "Easter egg," and that source is also a Russian journal.  This doesn't state exactly "Easter egg," but clearly describes the "ancient custom," over a century earlier in 1698--ed.)

Pg. 19:  ...thirteen _Copecks_.
(Mentioned more than once here.  OED also has 1698 for "Copeck," but from a different source--ed.)

Pg. 77:  ...the _Mongul Tartars_, who acknowledge the _Dalatlama_ for their Head.
(OED has 1654 for "Lama," then 1698 for "Dalailama," but again from another source and not this book--ed.)

Pg. 79:  ..._Tarrasun_, a Liquor made of rice.
(OED?--ed.)

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EASTER BUNNY

   I was shocked when I found that "Easter Bunny" is in the OED from only 1909.  The MOA-Mich. database wasn't working well today, but that, MOA-Cornell, LOC's American Memory, Harper's Weekly, OCLC WorldCat didn't help me find an earlier Easter Bunny!
   This, however, is from HARPER'S WEEKLY, 20 October 1877:

   On the Saxon mountains, too, it is said that the Easter hare brings the Easter eggs.

(There!  That explains it!  Russian rabbits bring the eggs!--ed.)