RUSSIA, ORDER OF ST. ANDREW |

collar chain in gold and enamels by Julius Keibel, St Petersburg, from the full set of Russian Imperial insignia bestowed upon George, Duke of Cambridge in 1874, formed of sixteen (of the original seventeen) medallion links of three alternating types, each individually marked on reverse and comprising: (i) Imperial Eagles each with central shield portraying St George and the Dragon (6), the central medallion horizontally mounted, one missing of the original seven;(ii) Saltire Crosses of St Andrew lettered S A P R (Sanctus Andreas Patronus Russiae) in the angles (6); and(iii) Trophies of Arms bearing the cypher of Peter the Great (4),each medallion fitted with gold eyelets for suspension at top and bottom (except central Imperial Eagle) and joined by oval ribbed links to form the collar, length 1m, total weight 246g all in, three or four elements with some enamel loss, generally good very fine, one Imperial Eagle medallion lacking as noted

The Order of St Andrew was founded by Peter I on 21 November 1698, in one of his many reforms of Russian customs in the direction of her western counterparts. On admission to the Order of St Andrew all recipients were automatically invested also as Knights of the Orders of St Alexander Nevsky, the White Eagle (from 1831), St Anne, and St Stanislaus (after 1831). Lots 58 - 63 form the Order of St Andrew presentation made to the 2nd Duke during Tsar Alexander II’s State Visit to Great Britain in May 1874. At the end of the visit the Duke wrote to his mother, on 23 May: ‘Thank God, the visit of the Emperor of Russia passed off well. All was well done and the reception friendly and good in every way… …He gave me the St Andrew’s Order which carries with it all the other great Orders of Russia, so that I am now bien decore with Russian Orders!’