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Auction: 18038 - Autographs, Historical Documents, Ephemera and Postal History
Lot: 3142

Autographs
Russia
The Death of Tsar Alexander III and the Marriage of Tsar Nicholas II
1894, a group of thirteen autograph telegrams, all on Russian telegraph stationery, eight with heavy black borders. Written by the Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII) while in Russia, addressed to Queen Victoria, reporting on the events there.

Alexander III had died in Livadia, Crimea on 1 November 1894. Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Alexandra, Princess of Wales hurried to Russia on hearing that their brother in law was dying. The Tsarina, Marie Feodorovna, was the sister to the Princess of Wales, both daughters of King Christian IX of Denmark.

Each telegram is written in pencil, and signed in full "Albert Edward". These are the originals as handed to the telegraph clerk, drafted in the hand of the Prince of Wales, and then transmitted to "The Queen" at Balmoral Castle (4), Perth (1), and Windsor Castle (8).



The funeral was held at St Petersburg on 19 November. It was decided that the wedding ceremony of Tsar Nicholas II to Princess Alexandra of Hesse and by Rhine should take place on 26 November. Court mourning was relaxed as that day was the birthday of the now Dowager Empress, widow of Tsar Alexander III. Queen Victoria took a keen interest in the events in Russia as Princess Alexandra (Alicky) was her granddaughter.

The Prince of Wales to The Queen (extracts)

5 November - "We are all well. Minny (Empress Marie Feodorovna) wonderfully resigned in her grief."

6 November - "Arrive Thursday St Petersburg. Written to you at some length"

6 November - "Have arrived. George's departure (Prince George of Wales) on 12th. Should you wish to see him could he not (see) you at Balmoral for 24 hours"

7 November - "Will let you know about wedding from Petersburg. Date not yet settled. Will gladly represent you at Funeral. Lord Chamberlain should arrive not later than 17th, just starting for Sevastopol Following eight written on mourning Russian telegram stationery"

13 November - "Arrived here at 10 this morning. Funeral procession on foot to Fortress lasted 4 hours then service an hour. Damp and dark weather"

15 November - "Minny (Dowager Empress) and Alix (Princess of Wales) will of course be present at wedding on 26th and Alix delighted to represent you"

15 November - "Alfred (Duke of Edinburgh), Irene (of Prussia, sister of the bride), Ernie (of Hesse, brother of the bride) and Georgy (Prince George of Wales) just arrived. Funeral on Monday - wedding probably 25th"

16 November - "The service on Monday commences at 10 and will last 2 or 3 hours. My father in law (King of Denmark) and Waldemar (Prince of Denmark) arrived today"

19 November - "Funeral service just over. Most impressive. Dear Minny bore up with wonderful fortitude
24 November - We leave on 2nd stay 24 hours at Berlin with Vicky (Empress Frederick, sister of the Prince of Wales). Minny and Alix well"

26 November - "Wedding over at 2 most impressive. Alicky (the bride, and now Empress of Russia) looked lovely. Great enthusiasm among the people."

30 November -" Many thanks for letter and presents for tomorrow
3 December - Just arrived ...all well."



A unique group revealing family relationships at the time of major national events in Imperial Russia. Photo



Plans for the wedding, which had been set for the spring of 1895, had been in the works since Nicholas's engagement, and it ordinarily would have included a week of public celebrations and parades. However, the death of Alexander III put an end to such extravagant plans. Nicholas had initially expressed his wish to be married at Livadia before his father's funeral, which Nicholas's mother had agreed with.[6] However, his uncles, Grand Dukes Vladimir, Alexei, Sergei and Paul argued that, as Nicholas was tsar, the wedding should be held in St. Petersburg. With Nicholas unwilling to wait until the end of official mourning to marry, it was decided to hold the wedding on his mother's birthday, which would have allowed for court mourning to be somewhat relaxed. Nicholas had also intended to keep the wedding a private family affair, but his uncles had persuaded their nephew to invite the diplomatic corps to watch the procession to and from the cathedral.

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Estimate
£3,000 to £3,500