GRAND DUKE KONSTANTIN PAVLOVICH: (1779-1831) Grand Duke of Russia, son of Emperor Paul I. Tsesarevich of Russia ...

GRAND DUKE KONSTANTIN PAVLOVICH: (1779-1831) Grand Duke of Russia, son of Emperor Paul I. Tsesarevich of Russia during the reign of his brother Alexander I. He secretly renounced to the throne in 1823. After the death of Alexander I, and for 25 days, he was known as “His Imperial Majesty Konstantin I Emperor of all Russias”. An interesting L.S., twice, in Cyrillic, five pages, signed to the second and fifth page, 4to, Warsaw, 15th June 1826, to Knight de Pougens, in French. Grand Duke Konstantin, in his capacity as Commander in Chief in charge of the militarization and discipline in Poland sends an unusual request regarding an inconvenient list of books, stating `Sir, I am going to make a request to you which you will for sure find quite extraordinary. I have accidentally read the catholic memorandum notebook corresponding to December 1825 and found an article entitled the bad books. I noticed that the author, after wisely exposing the danger that such books represent, and although the work is destined to honest people, he surprisingly includes the list of the most infamous books, which you can already rate reading the titles.´, further saying `Libraries contain a large amount of works which offend manners, religion and respect to Royal houses, and this memorandum list opened and available to young people could awake the desire of reading them, a lecture which will only trouble their thoughts and bribe their imagination´. The Grand Duke concludes requesting the books included in the list stating `Considering such dangers, I confess Sir, that I wish to know more about such works…please send them to me..´. Konstantin Pavlovich boldly signs at the base of the letter and adds three separate pages with a list of fourty five book names, signing again at the end of the list. A letter of good content. With two blank integral leaves, to the letter and again to the list. Two ink collection stamps. Small overall minor age wear, professionally repaired to the fold, otherwise VG £500-600