U.S. & Worldwide; The Alexander Collection of Russia
September 14-16, 2010
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #1438 RUSSIA Russian Offices in the Turkish Empire 1854 outer FL from St. Petersburg to Bucharest, addressed "To The Danube Army Headquarters", with circular SPB July 6 datestamp and red wax seal, fine and scarce example of military mail during the so called "undeclared war" with the Ottoman Empire. The Russians were the guardians of the Christian shrines within the Ottoman Empire, and when a dispute broke out between Orthodox and Catholic Christians in Jerusalem, France decided to intervene as protector of the Catholics, gaining special status from the Turks in 1852. Tsar Nicholas I of Russia decided to use the tension in an attempt to gain control of Constantinople and with it direct access to the Mediterranean. This alarmed France, long term allies of Turkey, and enemies of Russia, and Britain, who objected to any change in the balance of power, and also had rivalries with Russia further east. Russia issued demands in May 1853, which were soon refused, and Russian Danube Army began to occupy Turkish Moldavia and parts of Rumania in July. Turkey declared wa  | Price Realized $2,700.00 |
