Hi!

I am still learning about postcards I try and collect some and sell others.

I bought a group of postcards at auction and found one seemingly very ordinary one of St Isaacs Cathedral 1914 and posted in St Petersburg

I almost overlooked as the picture on the card was ordinary and the writing on the back was small, but then I noticed some interesting comments in the message.

The writer starts of by 'writing about the marble in the cathedral and how beautiful it is'. Later on however there is mention of 'being received by the Dowager Empress (mother of Tsar Nicholas II) and being entertained by three Duchesses which could have been the Tsars children as they were all Grand Duchesses. There is also US interest as the writer describes also being entertained by US Grant's grandaughter ( as well as the Duchesses). Ulysses S grant was the 18th president of America around 1870.

His grandaughter is described as a Princess which I researched as Princess Cantacuzeue-Speransky married into the Russian Royal family.

Obviously this was in the last few years of the Romanov dynasty.

Would any one know if this mentioin of meeting an important member of the Romanov dynasty (mother of the last Tsar) and US Grant's grand daughter as well as 3 Duchesses, would make this card much more valuable.

Are there any dealers or collectors out there who could value such a card or even make an offer? Might it be better being sold at a specialist auction house or am I kidding myself?

The President Ulysses S Grant, grand daughter and link to the Royal family in the last few years of the dynasty does seem very interesting though even if only from a visitor to the court, it might even be document somewhere.

I tried to look up the writer with no avail.

I have sold cards at much better prices when there is an interesting message to the reverse but I have never had a card like this to compare it to, and cannot find one like it for sale. Which I suppose is a good sign.

How many times did people mention meeting members of the senio Russian Royals I do not know?

Thanks Postcardshop