Antique Imperial Russian Signed Letter Countess Mengden to Count Ignatiev Dagmar

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Fine antique signed letter from Countess Zenaida (Zini) Mengden (1878-1950). She was the Lady-in-Waiting to the mother of Tsar Nicholas II, the Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna and followed the Empress into exile to Hvidore in Denmark where she continued to to look after the Empress until her death in 1928.

Following her death the Countess moved into a small apartment selling perfumes and cosmetics that were delivered by Prince Felix Yusupov from his wife's business Irfe in Paris. This poignant letter written circa 1920 is addressed to Count Alexei Nikolaevich Ignatiev (1874-1948), concerning relatives fighting in the Civil War she can't locate:

"Copenhagen, Amalianborg

15th December

Dear Count,

How are you? Do you know anything about your family? So much time has passed since we left Kiev and now it is so comforting to hear some news about you!

I am writing to you today with a big request: can you help me in finding information about my two nephews, George and Nikolai. It is said that they were in tanks and at this moment they should be xxx. Since they left England, my brother and my sister-in-law have rarely heard any news from them and they are terribly worried.

We really hope that they can come to Copenhagen for the holidays, but we do not know if they will manage to get a vacation. If you have seen or heard something about them, then be so kind and write me a few words.

I hope that you and all your relatives are doing well and that now you have calming.

I am warmly shaking your hand.

Z. Mengden"

Ignatiev was Grand Master of Ceremonies of the Imperial Court from 1903, and also Governor of Ryazan at the same time, from 1911-1915 he was Governor of Podolsk and then 1915-1916 Governor of Kiev. He later became Plenipotentiary of the Red Cross in the White Army and from 1918-1924 he held the same post in Estonia, helping many Russians escape to the West, he went into exile to Paris.

Size: 14.5 x 18 cm approx

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