Nicolas ii

40649 — showing the Imperial Yacht Standart with an unrelated autograph message on the verso from Edmond to his parents telling them that they "hurried back from Odessa and arrived this morning after an excellent crossing. We'll leave tonight. for Smyrna because there is a matter to clarify the Turkish forts fired on the Caucase which was leaving for France." 5½" x 3½" Constantinople 8th June no year but probably around The Standart was an Imperial Russian yacht serving Emperor Nicholas II and his family being in her time late 19th/early 20th century the largest Imperial Yacht afloat. After the Russian Revolution the ship was placed in drydock until 1936 when she was converted to a minelayer. During World War II she participated in the defence of Leningrad. The Caucasus campaign comprised armed conflicts between the Russian Empire and the Ottoman Empire later including Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus the German Empire the Central Caspian Dictatorship and the British Empire as part of the Middle Eastern theatre during World War I. Transcription Constantinople 8 juin Cher parents Nous sommes revenus précipitamment d'Odessa et nous sommes arrivés ce matin après une excellente traversée. Nous repartons ce soir à 5 heures pour Smyrne car il y a une affaire à éclaircir les forts turcs ont tiré sur le Caucase qui s'en allait en France. À bientôt des nouvelles plus longues. Votre fils Edmond Translation Constantinople 8th of June Dear Parents We hurried back from Odessa and arrived this morning after an excellent crossing. We'll leave tonight at 5 am for Smyrna because there is a matter to clarify the Turkish forts fired on the Caucase which was leaving for France. Longer news soon. Your son Edmond unknown