Description:

Peter The Great LS To Frederick I, Diplomacy For Northern Great War Ally. Absolutely Superb Condition!

Extremely scarce survival of among the most desired Royalty figures in history. Only a handful exist and many of those are in institutions. The last example of Peter the Great selling in a major auction fetched at Sotheby's in London in 2021 for over $60,000! This example is the most pristine we have seen and is from the renowned collection of Charles Sigety.

A 1p manuscript document in Russian Cyrillic, signed by Tsar Peter I (1672-1725) as "Piotr" at lower right. Issued from St. Petersburg, the newly constructed imperial capital, on October 18, 1710. The document is beautifully secretarially inscribed on laid paper and displayed in a floating mount, matted and framed behind glass. Not examined out of the frame. Expected wear commensurate with age including even toning, isolated edge darkening, scattered foxing, and gently flattened folds, else near fine and extremely legible. Bold and dark example of Peter the Great's extremely scarce signature. The actual size of the document is approximately 8.5" x 13.75" while the overall frame size is 17.125" x 22.125" x 1.25." Accompanied by a complete English translation.

Tsar Peter I sent this letter of congratulations to Frederick I (1657-1713), King of Prussia and Elector of Brandenburg, after receiving news of the king's grandson's recent birth in mid-August 1710. The tsar's warm greetings were an important gesture: no doubt sincere, they also confirmed Russia's desire to secure good diplomatic relations with Brandenburg-Prussia. Frederick I was Peter I's neighbor, and he would also become Peter I's future military ally during an upcoming phase of the Great Northern War (1700-1721).

Translated in part:

"Most Serene and Grand King and Elector, Most Dear Friend and Brother

The pleasant letter of Your Royal Majesty, which was forwarded to me on August 16th before the Throne Time, has been duly handed over to me through your Privy Counselor and my extraordinary envoy von Neiserling. From it I understood with particular pleasure that a supernatural good fortune has pleased Your Royal Highness to welcome the birth of a young prince, which you deign to call Prince of Prussia and Orange, to Your most Serene Crown Prince.

To which I heartily congratulate Your Royal Majesty.

May the Almighty grant your Royal Majesty all further happiness and all happiness and good fortune. I wish the aforementioned newborn prince and his most gracious parents keep him in good health, and, for Your Majesty's amusement and to bring him to adulthood, and that he may enter upon the glories of his worthy ancestors.

In doing so presenting your royal majesty to the Almighty in blessing, yours sincerely:

Your Majesty's faithful brother and friend:

Peter (the First).

In St. Petersburg,

October the 18th day of 1710."

Frederick I's son Frederick William I of Brandenburg-Prussia (1688-1740), along with his daughter-in-law Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, had welcomed a third child and only living son, Frederick William, born on August 16, 1710. Despite Peter I's wishes for the baby's health and longevity, the newborn Prince of Prussia and Orange died in infancy less than one year later, on July 21, 1711.

Peter I took the time to send this letter during an especially active time of his latest military campaign against arch enemy Charles XII, King of Sweden (1682-1718). The Great Northern War was waged on many fronts, from present day Poland and Turkey to Latvia and Estonia. The year 1710 marked several Russian successes: in June 1710, Russian forces captured Viborg; in July 1710, Riga, the most populated Swedish city; and in October 1710, Tallinn. With these takeovers, the Russian Empire consolidated the Baltic Provinces and expelled the Swedish from Estonia and Livonia.

Frederick I of Prussia would become Pete I's ally during the Great Northern War in 1712, and the former's successor, Frederick William I, would openly declare war against Sweden in 1715. Brandenburg-Prussia would serve as a powerful Russian ally in the Great Northern War until they secured a separate peace in 1720. Their choice of the winning side--the anti-Swedish coalition--secured Brandenburg-Prussia the southern parts of Swedish Pomerania. After Charles XII's death in 1718, Peter I negotiated favorable terms at the Aland Congress; the war was officially concluded with the Treaty of Nystadt in 1721.

Peter I ruled the Russian Empire for 43 years, first with elder brother Ivan V, and after 1696 independently until his death in February 1725.

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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