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The most renowned and the longest-ruling female leader of Russia, reigning from July 9, 1762 until her death in 1796 at the age of 67. LS in Cyrillic, signed “Ekaterina,” one page, 7.5 x 12, February 9, 1786. Letter to Prince Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin, a favourite of Catherine the Great. The Empress informs Potemkin that the salaries of the Kherson Admiralty carpenters for September should be allocated from the Saint Petersburg Exchequer for residual sums in "fifteen thousand roubles in paper money" and requests that Potemkin make the necessary arrangements for the payment. In fine condition.
More than a court favorite, Prince Grigory Potemkin was Catherine’s intimate confidant, trusted adviser, and chief architect of Russia’s southern expansion, overseeing the development of New Russia, the annexation of Crimea, and major naval and administrative projects around the Black Sea. Their relationship, which had begun as a passionate romance in the 1770s, matured into an extraordinary alliance of affection, ambition, and statecraft; Catherine continued to rely on Potemkin’s judgment long after their romantic attachment had cooled. This letter, concerning payment to carpenters at the Kherson Admiralty, illustrates the practical workings of that partnership, with the Empress directing resources toward the naval infrastructure central to Potemkin’s imperial vision.
From the personal collection of a lifelong collector, teacher, and traveler with a passion for world history. His collecting years ranged from the 1970s to the present day, meaning that several of the premier pieces have not been on the market in decades.
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