Description:

Nicholas II Tsar of Russia
[Moscow, Russian Empire], ca. November 1893
Czar Nicholas II Signed Bill For Vodka! Shortly Before Ending Affair With Ballerina & Getting Married
PPDS

A 1p Russian language document, being a Preobrazhensky Life-Guards Regiment Officers' Club restaurant receipt, neatly signed at bottom by future Tsar Nicholas II (1868-1917), then Tsarevich, who has signed with his rank as Adjutant Colonel of the Preobrazhensky Life-Guards Regiment. Ca. November 1893. [Moscow, Russian Empire.] The partly printed and partly manuscript receipt is entitled "Bill / Officers' Club / Preobrazhensky Regiment of the P[ersonal] Gu[ards]." Articles of food and drink are enumerated below in pencil. Matted and displayed in a frame, to the left of a high-quality photograph portrait of Nicholas II wearing a military uniform. Not examined out of the frame. Expected wear to the receipt including gentle even toning and a few flattened folds and wrinkles. Isolated negligible ink bleed-through from a docket on the reverse. Else near fine. A few dings and scuffs to the frame. The frame backing is affixed with a catalog description from the Kenneth W. Rendell Gallery (Wellesley, Massachusetts.) The sight size of the receipt is 4" x 6.875." The overall size of the frame is 15.75" x 13" x 1.125."

The 25-year-old tsarevich was a confirmed bachelor and bon vivant in November 1893. He enjoyed socializing with fellow officers of the Preobrazhensky Regiment. As this receipt indicates, the tsarevich regularly consumed expensive food and drink including surf, turf, and alcoholic beverages. This receipt lists expenditures from four dates, November 13, 15, 19, and 20, on which the tsarevich purchased appetizers, entrees, and cocktails, occasionally in multiple portions for sharing. The total monthly bill came to 20 rubles and 25 kopeks.

A summary of the bill is as follows:

November 13: "3 portions" @ 45 kopeks

November 15: "hors d'oeuvres + vodka" @ 35 kopeks
"2 portions" @ 30 kopeks

November 19: beefsteak @ 6 rubles, 50 kopeks
oysters @3 rubles, 25 kopeks
"evening meal" @ 1 ruble, 40 kopeks
second beefsteak @ 6 rubles, 50 kopeks
tea @ 5 kopeks
"portion" @ 15 kopeks

November 20: "4 portions" @ 60 kopeks
"hors d'oeuvres + vodka" @ 35 kopeks
tea @ 5 kopeks
"2 portions" @ 30 kopeks

The future Nicholas II could still look forward to an entire year of carousing and extramarital love affairs before all that ended with the death of his father, Tsar Alexander III, on November 1, 1894. His father's death, combined with his impending marriage with Princess Alix of Hesse on November 26, 1894, compelled the tsarevich to proactively end his 3-year-long relationship with his primary mistress, professional ballerina Mathilde Kschessinska.

The Preobrazhensky Regiment was one of the oldest regiments in Russia, established by Tsar Peter I in 1690. It was the tsar's own regiment, tasked with ensuring his personal protection as well as that of the imperial family. Instead of providing the tsarevich with structure through military discipline, though, the Preobrazhensky Regiment just enabled and facilitated the tsarevich's revels. Alexander III purportedly despaired of his eldest son's dissolute ways.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: framed: 15.75" x 13" x 1.125"
  • Medium: PPDS

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