- 23
Rasputin--Hoare, Samuel.
Estimate
1,500 - 2,000 GBP
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Description
- The Death of Rasputin, typescript intelligence report
describing how news of the assassination has spread through Russia, weighing up the likelihood of its veracity, naming the likely assassins ("...There seems also general agreement that he was killed either by the Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovitch or by Count Sumarokoff-Elston..."), and in a later update confirming that "the body of Rasputin has been discovered in the River Nevka", 14 pages, foolscap, "Secret" stamp, 1-2 January 1917; together with a manuscript note to Reginald Hall and a telegram to Claude Serocold, both of Naval Intelligence, April-May 1917; mounted on a paper folder, all but the last page of the report loosely inserted in the folder, staple holes
"...In the early morning of Saturday, December 30th. there was enacted in Petrograd one of those crimes which by their magnitude blurr [sic] the well-defined rules of ethics and by their results change the history of a generation..."
The first report of Rasputin's death to reach the West. Sir Samuel Hoare (1880-1959) was assigned to the British intelligence mission with the Russian general staff in 1916-17.
"...In the early morning of Saturday, December 30th. there was enacted in Petrograd one of those crimes which by their magnitude blurr [sic] the well-defined rules of ethics and by their results change the history of a generation..."
The first report of Rasputin's death to reach the West. Sir Samuel Hoare (1880-1959) was assigned to the British intelligence mission with the Russian general staff in 1916-17.
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
In his memoir of his time in Russia, The Fourth Seal (1930), Hoare recalls writing this cable on New Year's Eve and having it encoded by his wife, Maud, and cabled to London. He soon found that British Intelligence was being blamed for the assassination, a fact which the ambassador had to deny in person to the Tsar. Hoare claimed this suspicion originated in his association with Purishkevich, and the fact that his "office was notoriously well informed about Russian affairs".