LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 APR The James C. Russo Collection #5003  / 

36014

Imperial Presentation Cigarette-case

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Silver Start Price:1,800.00 USD Estimated At:2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD
Imperial Presentation Cigarette-case
<B>Russian Karelian Birchwood Imperial Presentation Cigarette Case</B></I><BR><I>Circa 1890 </B></I><BR><BR>The cover applied with the conjoined Cyrillic initials of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (grandson of Emperor Nicholas I), below a Romanov crown in silver, with spine to accommodate a tinder cord (missing), the top with hinged match compartment and exterior match strike-<BR>3 3/4 x 2 5/8 in. <BR><I><BR>He was the most admired man in the army, not only an old fashioned soldier, but deeply Slav. His whole being exuded a fierce energy. His incisive measured speed, flashing eyes and quick, nervous movements, hard, steel-trap mouth and gigantic stature personify imperious and impetuous audacity. - </B></I>Maurice Paléologue. <BR><BR>Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich (1856-1929) was the uncle of Tsar Nicholas II and Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army at the outbreak of World War I. He began his career as young officer during the Turkish War (1877-78), where he was awarded a Saint George's Cross. He went on to command a Guards Hussar Regiment and eventually the entire Imperial Guard. After the Revolution, the Grand Duke went on to the Crimea, although he was not involved in the Civil War. In 1919 the British Navy evacuated him on the <I>H.M.S. Nelson</B></I> along with the Dowager Empress, Maria Fedorovna. <BR><BR>Provenance:<BR>Purchased from Sheldon Shapiro, London<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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