Louis VUITTON sends objects to the Russian Court. 1859.

Louis Vuitton (1821.1892).

Signed autograph piece. 

One page in-4° on lined blue paper with Louis VUITTON letterhead – General packaging.

Paris. September 7, 1859

Very rare Louis Vuitton manuscript addressed to Count André Schouvaloff (Piotr Andreievitch Chouvalov (1827-1889), high dignitary of the Court of Saint Petersburg and aide-de-camp to Tsar Alexander II)

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“Paris on ^October 7 185 9. I, the undersigned, declare to send to Mr. ^Count André Schouvaloff, aide-de-camp of his Mr. Emperor of Russia, English quay in St. Petersburg, a hidden box containing 2 black wood bookcases – copper inlay, value 1200. Get insured for 3000f. L.Vuitton. Forward seventy-five francs 35 centimes including 25 f. Vuitton. Or 50 francs for the house.”

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This document finds its place in a context of rapprochement between the France of Napoleon III and the Russia of Alexander II, who succeeded his father in 1855 and overhauled foreign policy. The two powers having signed a commercial alliance treaty in 1857 no longer consider themselves enemies; the Russian aristocracy and intelligentsia can freely go to France, to Paris but also to the French Riviera whose pleasures they enjoy. It is probable that these orders were, through the aides-de-camp, addressed to the Tsar himself. We know that after the death of Louis Vuitton, the trunks of his design were prized by the Russian Court, notably by Prince Orlov and by Tsar Nicholas II himself.