Nicholas I, Gramota with grant of arms to Tarasov, manuscript on vellum, Tsarskoe Selo, 1840, velvet binding

NICHOLAS I, TSAR

Grant of arms to Dmitrii Klementevich Tarasov, signed "Nikolai". Tsarskoe Selo, 21 August 1840

folio (466 x 327mm.), illuminated manuscript on vellum, 4 leaves, first page written in gold and surrounded by imperial armorials, other pages with the crowned monogram of Nicholas I and vignettes in margins, third leaf with armorial of Tarasov, signed by Nicholas I at end, original green velvet binding with embossed floral border, watered silk guards between each page, sewn with a single thick gilt thread, thread fraying, spine frayed at ends, without seal

A large and impressive gramota, providing a grant of arms to Dmitrii Tarasov (1792-1866), who was physician to Alexander I and Nicholas I. He wrote a memoir which included the last days of Alexander I who died in mysterious circumstances in 1825. The text of the document provides details of Tarasov's career.

PROVENANCE:

Major Vincent Wheeler-Holohan (died 1938), diplomatic courier to Moscow from 1921; by family descent