11 postcards of Russian Imperial Romanov family and others written by Princess Katherine/Catherine (Ekaterina) Obolensky, c. 1908-16, some postmarked Tula, where the princely Obolensky family had a huge estate. The images include Alexandra, the last Tsarina of Russia; Grand Duchess Olga and Grand Duchess Tatiana, two of the Tsar and Tsarina's children; Grand Duke Nicholas, Chief of the Tsarist Army; and Princess Nicholas of Greece, née Grand Duchess Elena of Russia

Condition Report

1. The Dowager Princess Obolensky sent the postcards to a woman in Bexhill-on-Sea on a regular exchange basis, and mentions family events including holidays. One message includes: 'This time I send you both the fathers of the newly married Swedo-Russian couple [referring to the postcard image]. In general I prefer sending two cards at a time because so often they are lost.' The postcards provide a rare window on the life of a princely family of Tsarist Russia.

WITH: six Imperial Russian and other postcards with messages from 'A. Gagarine', perhaps Marina A. Gagarin of the aristocratic family, who would have known Princess Obolensky. Prince Nikolai Sergeevich Gagarin, like the Obolenskys, owned an estate in the Tula region. The images include Princess Maria of Russia, Grand Duchess Olga of Russia (both were daughters of the Tsar and Tsarina, and they were all to be murdered by the Bolsheviks); Grand Duchess Victoria Melita of Russia; and Elizabeth, Dowager Queen of Romania. These postcards too were sent on an exchange basis to the same woman in Bexhill-on-Sea with whom Princess Obolensky exchanged cards, and it is probably significant that the Gagarins were related by marriage to the Obolensky family. The First World War messages mention addresses in Moscow and St Petersburg, and include 'Very many thanks for cards ...[I] can well imagine your feelings on witnessing the baby killers over London. Hateful beasts.' [a reference to German Zeppelins or bomber planes]; 'The season here is in full swing and I cannot go to Nice'; 'The Huns are vile & abominable, like mad animals & ought to be treated as such.'