ELIZABETH, Empress of Russia (1742-62). Gramota [Grant of Land] in favour of First Major Aleksandr Mikhelson of the Life Guards Preobrazhenskii Regiment, St. Petersburg: 29 November 1759.

ELIZABETH, Empress of Russia (1742-62). Gramota [Grant of Land] in favour of First Major Aleksandr Mikhelson of the Life Guards Preobrazhenskii Regiment, St. Petersburg: 29 November 1759.



Illuminated manuscript on vellum, 5 pages, 4° (428 x 335mm), the first page with illuminated headpiece in gold and colours, incorporating the Imperial arms and text in gold within border with shell and foliate motifs at intervals, the second page with text mostly in gold, the remaining in black and gold, all within a decorative border with shell motifs at intervals, signed by 7 state councellors including Count Mikhail Vorontsov, Prince Ivan Shcherbatov and Prince Aleksandr Golitsyn, countersigned by secretary Ivan Ermolaev, with red silk guards. Original red velvet with gold-thread and brocade cord suspending a wax seal in a parcel gilt-metal case, the detachable upper cover repoussé, chased and engraved with the Imperial arms, and with two tassles (slight wear to extremeties), in maroon cloth box. Provenance: Lily and Edmond Safra (sold, Sotheby\'s New York, 3 December 2005, lot 56).



Confirming an earlier grant dated 25 November 1758, for the Major\'s long service and bravery in his regiment, with reversion to his sons and daughters, for lands in the Derpt region of Lifland (now Tartu in southern Estonia). Aleksandr Mikhelson (1718-83) eventually was promoted to General Vice Marshall and became a senator.