PAUL I AND ALEXANDER I GRAMOTA

Sold at Christie’s 29 November 2007

Lot Description
PAUL I, Emperor of Russia (1796-1801) and ALEXANDER I, Emperor of Russia (1801-1825). Gramota [Grant of Land] in favour of Chancellor Count Ivan Osterman, in Russian. St. Petersburg, 24 April 1801.

Illuminated manuscript on vellum, 3 pages, large 2° (490 x 348mm), the first leaf with text in gold within a border with the Imperial arms at top with regional coats of arms and Paul’s cipher on the borders, the second and third leaf with some letters in gold, the berried leaf-tied border enclosing a Greek key pattern in silver, with Paul’s cipher within a wreath at the head, inscribed and signed ‘I confirm Aleksandr’, counter-signed by Vice Chancellor Count Kochubei, the last page with confirmation of the grant laid before the Senate on 16 January 1801. Disbound, with two green moiré silk leaves.

ISSUED BY PAUL I, SIGNED BY ALEXANDER I. The grant delivered to the Senate on 16 January 1801 during the reign of Paul, who was assassinated on 11/23 March that year. It confirms the grant of Catherine II dated 28 June 1774 to the then Privy Councillor Count Osterman of lands in Mogilev Province, Orshansk district in the bailiwick of Sarzhitskoe, of further lands, towns, villages, fields, forests, etc. and their inhabitants. The subscription states that the grant was confirmed at the Belorussian Law office on 23 October 1801, mentioning 2808 male serfs, and entered at the Ministry of the Interior on 18 December 1801.

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