Vladimir Alexandrovich, Grand Duchess, of Russia.

Two autograph letters signed ("Grand-Duchess Wladimir of Russia"), to Reginald Cox, and a document signed, expressing her relief that her jewels are now lodged safely at his bank in London, asking for an advance of £10,000, and ordering a valuation ("...I have given to Mr. Pierre Cartier, bearer of this letter, instructions to make the valuation..."), 6 pages, Kislvodsk, Russia, and Paris, 16/29 November 1919 to 10 July 1920, with an accompanying autograph envelope and a receipt signed by Cartier; "Inventory of Jewels at Craig's Court, January 26th 1920", by Garrard and Co., describing 115 pieces ("...A fine brilliant 15 curb link Tiara, with 15 fine pearl drops. (Four pearls missing and 3 brilliants loose.)..."), signed by the Grand-Duchess, carbon-copy typescript, 8 pages, foolscap, 26 January 1920, with two covering notes by Garrard and Co., 3-5 February 1920; 10 autograph letters signed by Albert Stopford, to Cox, on the Grand-Duchess's escape from Russia ("...she will never leave Russia unless deported by force..."), her financial troubles, her jewellery, and his endeavours on her behalf, together with two related letters and six telegrams, 44 pages, 22 October 1919 to 11 July 1920; later letters (including some retained copies), documents, and notes relating to the Grand-Duchess's death and estate, sent to Cox and Co., on the jewels and their transfer to Switzerland, her will, the financial affairs of her estate, the power of attorney granted to Alfonso de Orleans y Borbon, Infante of Spain, and its later revocation, including three letters signed by the Infante, altogether c.43 items, 1920-1922

Clarke, W. Hidden Treasures of the Romanovs: Saving the Royal Jewels (Edinburgh, 2009)

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

An unrecorded and unpublished correspondence relating to the celebrated jewellery collection of Maria Pavlovna, widow of Grand Duke Vladimir, aunt of Tsar Nicholas II. When she was thrown into exile by the revolutions of 1917, her jewellery was saved from the Bolsheviks by the Hon. Albert Stopford, a Briton who had befriended many at the Romanov court while discreetly spying for his country. Stopford rescued the jewels from the Vladimir Palace in Petrograd in the summer of 1917, dressed as a workman and entering through a secret passageway, and then smuggled them out of Russia in a pair of battered Gladstone bags, depositing them at Cox and Co., a London private bank. Another group of valuables - jewelled cufflinks and cigarette cases - was hidden in pillowcases and deposited with Swedish diplomats; rediscovered in Stockholm in 2009, they were sold at Sotheby's for £7 million. The jewels Stopford deposited with Cox would today be worth tens of millions of pounds and items are now found in some of the world's finest collections. For example the Vladimir tiara, the first item on the inventory, was purchased privately by Queen Mary and is often worn by Queen Elizabeth II on state occasions, while the "Grand Duchess Vladimir Suite" was one of the highlights of Elizabeth Taylor's collection.