ANDREI VLADIMIROVICH

(Grand Duke, 1879-1956, Russian Major-General, Grandson of Tsar Alexander II, Cousin of Nicholas II) Autograph Letter Signed 'Andrei', in Russian with translation, to his nephew Slava Astafiev

(d.1976), thanking him “for the delightful Calendar you have made - such graceful work, in such an artistic style”, Andrei’s wife “Aunt Mala”, the famous prima ballerina assoluta  Matilda KSCHESSINSKA , (1872-1971), “and Vova”, their son  Prince Vladimir , (1902-1974), “have also received your presents”, Vova is in bed with a cold, and “Aunt Mala asks me to thank you for your dear gift and your kindness, she has just not had time to write ... She goes to the studio early in the morning and only comes back at 9 at night ... The number of pupils this year is still growing, the studio”, opened in 1929, and where Matilda taught until she was 92, “is very successful but it needs an enormous amount of work and of course Aunt Mala is very tired. She very often remembers you and talks about you ... From time to time we have news of your father”, the actor  Joseph Kschessinsky , (1868-1942, who stayed in Russia), “nowadays he is simply hungry, as he is not earning and it is impossible to live on his pension. We recently sent him 10 dollars, which make 20 roubles through ‘Torgsin’ [‘Trade Syndicate’]. There they give him a book and he can take goods and produce worth up to 20 roubles at the ‘Torgsin’ stores ... If money were sent it would not be possible to buy this amount (20 roubles). And by Torgsin one can get 5 times as much ... it is perfectly safe for the recipient. Of course it is not a large amount ... but at present it is all we can send him from time to time”, Slava’s father “writes that he can now get fattened up for Christmas - he was so hungry there. Aunt Mala and I send our warmest felicitations and wishes”, 3 sides 4to., 10 Villa Molitor, Paris XVI, 25th December 1932 Andrei Vladimirovich married Matilda, who had been for a while in 1892 the mistress of Nicholas II, in 1921. For their life in Russia and France see her ‘Dancing in Petersburg’, 1960. Slava’s mother, Joseph’s first wife, was another famous ballerina, Serafima Alexandrovna Astafieva, 1876-1934. She opened her school at ‘The Pheasantry’, 152 Kings Road, Chelsea, in 1916, and Slava married Margot Luck, one of her pupils.

• GBP 195.00 > другие валюты
• номер заказа: SD14555

• продавец: Sophie Dupré (GREAT BRITAIN)