370 - IMPERIAL RUSSIA - ORDER OF SAINT STANISLAS

IMPERIAL RUSSIA - ORDER OF SAINT STANISLAS RARE FIRST-CLASS SET FOR THE PRESUMED NON-CHEREIAN DA’UD EFFENDI MOLKO, FIRST “DRAGOMAN” TRANSLATOR OF THE IMPERIAL DIVAN, comprising: - Gold jewelry (14K), with the obverse of the arms enameled. Hallmark “56” for Saint Petersburg on the ring, indicating an imperial supplier, and “AK” on the reverse of the branches. The obverse and reverse of the center are adorned with the double-headed imperial eagle, enameled. 67 mm. Gross weight: 28.2 g -A sash with a pleated round bow. -A vermeil, silver, and enamel plaque. The center is adorned with a round motif featuring the double-headed eagle. The reverse features a hinged clasp, hallmarked with the “84” mark for Saint Petersburg, indicating an imperial supplier, and the manufacturer Keibel. 92 mm. Gross weight: 51.5 g In excellent condition. Circa 1874–1896. Provenance: Da’ud Effendi Molko, then passed down through the family Biography: Da’ud Effendi Molko (sometimes also referred to as Mollo or Molho). Chief translator at the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Da’ud was born in Thessaloniki in 1845. Coming from a modest background, his family moved to Constantinople while he was still a child, and he attended elementary school at the Camondo Institute. He entered the service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the age of 18 and rose to the position of chief translator during the reign of Sultan Abd al-Aziz, a post he retained when Abd al-Hamid II ascended the throne. Da’ud was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Nishan-i-Osmaniye, the Nishan-i-Medjidiye, and the Nishan-i-Imtiaz, as well as the Persian Order of the Sun and the Lion. He is also a Commander of the Legion of Honor, a recipient of the Order of the Prussian Crown, and a Grand Cross of the Polar Star. Biography from “Univers israélite,” January 15, 1897. Expert: Arnaud de Gouvion Saint-Cyr