-5800-p.jpg?v=6575e63e-9b78-4e7e-8455-67ab0bc37f14)
-5800-p.jpg?v=6575e63e-9b78-4e7e-8455-67ab0bc37f14)
bibelotslondon deal in ephemera and curiosities from Britain and around the world. Our diverse inventory is carefully chosen and constantly evolving. We work very hard to offer the highest quality works at competitive prices and we may be able to source specific pieces for our clients upon request. Our inventory is listed online, and we strive to keep our website completely up to date, so our customers can easily check availability.
We believe in offering clients items that are unique and rare for aficionados of the antique's and collector's world.
For sale is a fine signed letter from the widow of Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich of Russia, Natalia Sergeevna Brassova nee Sheremetevskaya (1880-1952), addressed to Countess Maria Iourievna Ignatiev nee Princess Urusov (1876-1959), wife of Count Alexei Nikolaevich Ignatiev (1874-1948). The letter is written in Russian and dated rue Monsieur 25th January 1948 and discusses the death of their beloved ones. Her son Count George Mikhailovich Brassov (1910-1931), son of Grand Duke michael who had died in a car accident.
"Dear Countess,
It is so sad that I cannot come to today to pray with you all in memory of our dear deceased. I got a cold but as soon as I get better I'll go to Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois and on his grave will order a funeral mass. I would also like to see you to express my deepest condolences. I kiss you dear Countess. Sincerely, your Nat Brassova.
PS. Excuse me for these scribbles but I still have a very bad finger and its hard for me to write."
Ignatiev was Grand Master of Ceremonies of the Imperial Court from 1903, and also Governor of Ryazan at the same time, from 1911-1915 he was Governor of Podolsk and then 1915-1916 Governor of Kiev. He later became Plenipotentiary of the Red Cross in the White Army and from 1918-1924 he held the same post in Estonia, helping many Russians escape to the West, he went into exile to Paris.
Natalia married her third husband Grand Duke Michael in secret in 1912 in Vienna without telling his brother the Tsar and hence lived in exile until World War I when they were permitted to return to Russia, although she was not allowed to live in any of the imperial palaces and was shunned by much of Society. In 1915 Nicholas II agreed to legitimise their son George and he was created Count Brassov. When revolution came Nicholas abdicated in favour of his brother Michael, which he refused, but this caused further problems for the pair and hey were placed under house arrest in Gatchina. Michael was arrested with his Secretary and sent into internal exile to Perm where they were later murdered. Believing the Grand Duke to be still alive Germany helped Natalia to escape with her children with false passports. They went to England via Constantinople, eventually settling in Paris where it was cheaper to live. She later died in abject poverty in an attic room from cancer.
Provenance: Igantiev family archives
Photographs form part of the Description
Size: 13 x 20.5 cm approx
| |