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an old photo of a group of people sitting on a bencha book with pictures of people and horses in it
MILLON

430 - A photograph album from the family of General Nikolai Nikola…
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Estimate €400 - €600
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Description
A photograph album from the family of General Nikolai Nikolaevich Komstadius (Николай Николаевич Комстадиус, 1866–1917), containing numerous photographs of him in various uniforms of the Imperial Guard. The (modern) album, probably compiled and annotated by his daughter Maria Nikolaevna Komstadius (1900–1968), documents the family’s ties to the Malama, Sinelnikoff, Stenbock-Fermor and Bagration-Mukhrani families. It also includes a photograph of Dmitri Iakovlevich Malama (1891–1919), a cavalry officer best known for his connection with Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna, the second daughter of Nicholas II. Prints in various formats, both old and modern. Background General Nikolai Nikolaevich Komstadius is a particularly interesting figure, as he belonged both to the elite of the Imperial Guard cavalry and to a circle very close to Nicholas II. He was also connected to several prominent families of the Russian nobility, notably the Malamas, the Sinelnikovs and the von Thals. The Komstadius family were Russian nobles of Swedish origin; the general’s grandfather was Auguste Fedorovich Komstadius (1777–1856), Governor of Kherson, a prominent figure in the imperial administration, and his father was Nikolai Augustovich Komstadius (1837–1872), a colonel in the Guard Hussars regiment. His mother was Sofia Nikolaevna Sinelnikova, a descendant of Ivan Maksimovich Sinelnikov, the first governor of Ekaterinoslav. Following the death of her first husband, she married Cavalry General Alexander Yakovlevich von Thal (1840–1911), who appears in a photograph in the album and thus became Nikolai Nikolayevich’s stepfather. After completing his studies, Nikolai Nikolaevich was appointed cornet in His Majesty’s Guard Hussars regiment in 1887. He also attended courses at the Alexander Military Law Academy, which was relatively rare for a cavalry officer. Squadron commander, promoted to colonel in 1900, commander of the 44th Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Regiment (1904–1905), and commander of the prestigious His Majesty the Emperor’s Guard Cuirassier Regiment (1905–1908); he was promoted to Major-General in 1906 in recognition of his distinguished service. He subsequently commanded the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Guards Cavalry Division (1911–1912), after which he was assigned to the personal protection of Nicholas II as head of the Imperial Bodyguard. In 1915, he also became vice-president of the Community of the Sisters of the Red Cross in Tsarskoye Selo. In 1897, he married his cousin Vera Vladimirovna Malama (1876–1948). The couple had five children: Sophie (1898–1919), Vera (1899–1919), Maria (1900–1968), Nicholas (1901–1989) and Vladimir (born 1906). After the Revolution, Vera Vladimirovna left Russia with her children. The family first stayed in Greece, where they were part of Princess Hélène Vladimirovna’s entourage, before settling in France in 1923.
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About the sale Russian Art – Mr G’s Collection – Part 3
Auction location
Auction time 09/18/2026 at 11:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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