Lettre de Muzaffar al-Din Shah (r. 1896-1907) à l'Impératrice de Russie Alexandra Fiodorovna (1894-1917)

Dated 20 Sha'ban 1322 / October 30, 1904 Gouache, ink, gold, on thick paper, mounted as an album page, inscribed with eight lines of writing "shekasteh nasta'liq". The letter emanates from the Shah of Iran, and announces to the Empress of Russia, the arrival of a diplomatic gift, a pearl necklace, presented by Prince Arfa' al-Dawla, ambassador to the Ottoman Empire and special envoy to Russia. Page size: 47.8 x 32 cm A gouache depicting the pearl necklace is included (32.5 x 24 cm). Alexandra Feodorovna was the last empress of Russia, wife of Tsar Nicholas II and favorite granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. In August 1904, she gave birth to her 5th child, and 1st long-awaited son, the tsarevich. This pearl necklace was given to mark the occasion. An illuminated letter from Muzaffar al-Din Shah (r. 1896-1907) to the Empress of Russia, Alexandra Feodorovna (1894-1917), presenting a string of pearls as a gift to be taken by Prince Arfa' al-Dawla, ambassador to the Ottoman empire and special envoy to Russia, dated 20 Sha'ban 1322 / 30 October 1904, with a gouache of the string of pearls. Alexandra Feodorovna was the last empress of Russia, wife of Tsar Nicholas II and favourite granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. In August 1904, she gave birth to her 5th child and 1st long-awaited son, the Tsarevich. This pearl necklace was gifted to mark the occasion.