KURAKIN ALEXANDER (1752-1818) Autograph letter signed addressed to Mr. Parravicini. Paris, 29 January / 10 February 1812.

Lot 35

8001 200

1 leaf, 24.5 x 20.5 cm. Brown nut ink. Autograph signature of A. Kurakin. In French. In the letter, he informs that he has requested a passport for Mr Parravicini to travel to Holland. Parravicini, a Russian major who wanted to travel to Paris via Mannheim and Amsterdam, was refused permission to do so. This was justified on the grounds that the officer already had a ‘not very good reputation’, having distinguished himself as a spy in Venice, Switzerland, Germany and Poland. Prince Alexander Borisovich Kurakin (1752-1818) was a Russian diplomat, vice-chancellor, member of the State Council, senator, and privy councillor. Together with D.I. Lobanov-Rostovsky, he signed the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807. From October 1808, he was ambassador to Paris. In April 1812, at a meeting with Napoleon I, he made an unsuccessful attempt to settle Russian-French relations. After Napoleon I left for the army, he resigned from his post as ambassador.

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