Lot 559

559

EMPEROR ALEXANDER II OF RUSSIA (1818-1881)
A COMMEMORATIVE LEATHER DESK PORTFOLIO AND CIGARETTE CASE

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Property from the Collection of David Gainsborough Roberts

EMPEROR ALEXANDER II OF RUSSIA (1818-1881)A COMMEMORATIVE LEATHER DESK PORTFOLIO AND CIGARETTE CASE

CIRCA 1880

Details

EMPEROR ALEXANDER II OF RUSSIA (1818-1881)
A COMMEMORATIVE LEATHER DESK PORTFOLIO AND CIGARETTE CASE
CIRCA 1880
The portfolio inscribed in silver script '1 Juillet/ 1866' to '6 Juillet/ 1880' and 'Merci pour tout', with paper label to inside inscribed in Russian 'Belonging to the Emperor Alexander II', the cigarette case inscribed in Russian script 'Love Mama/ 6 July 1880', with similar paper label further inscribed in hand 'Presented by his Son, 6 July 1880, Princess E. Yourievsky'
The portfolio: 10 ¾ x 8 ½ in. (27.3 x 21.6 cm.)
The cigarette case: 4 ½ x 3./12 in. (11.4 x 8.9 cm.)

Provenance

Alexander II.
Princess Yourievsky.
Prince Galitzin.
Hammer Galleries, New York, 1949.
Christie's, New York, 12 April 1988, lot 31 from The India Early Minshall Collection sold on behalf of The Western Reserve Historical Society.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Lot Essay

The desk folio was given by the Princess to her husband and is inscribed with dates commemorating their meeting and their marriage. The cigarette case presented to the Tsar by his son, born out of wedlock, on the occasion of the marriage of his mother to Alexander II.
Sold with a photocopy of a document dated February 1949, issued by the Hammer Galleries, entitled Mementoes of Alexander II.

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