The effect of ${alpha}$-, ${eta}$- and ${gamma}$-picolines on the stereochemistry of the coordination compounds of lanthanide(III) nitrates derived from 4[N-(furfural)amino]antipyrine semicarbazone (FFAAPS) has been studied. The general composition of the present coordination compounds is [Ln(FFAAPS)$(NO_3)_3$Pic] (Ln=La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy or Ho and Pic=${alpha}$-, ${eta}$- or ${gamma}$-picolines). All these coordination compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses, molecular weight, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, infrared and electronic spectra. The infrared studies suggest that the FFAAPS behaves as a neutral tridentate ligand with N, N, O donor while ${alpha}$-, ${eta}$- or ${gamma}$-picoline is coordinated to the lanthanide(III) ions via heterocyclic N-atom. Nitrates are bicovalently bonded in these compounds. From the electronic spectral data, nephelauxetic effect (${eta}$), covalence factor ($b^{1/2}$), Sinha parameter (${delta}%$) and the covalence angular overlap parameter (${eta}$) have been calculated. Thermal stabilities of these complexes have been studied by thermogravimetric analysis. The coordination number of lanthanide(III) ions in the present compound is found to be ten. The antibacterial studies screening of the primary ligand FFAAPS and the complexes showed that the present complexes have moderate antibacterial activities.