[Prince George Sergeievitch Romanovsky, Imperial Russian Consul General at San Francisco, 1917-1923.] Autograph Letter Signed, in French, written on eve of Russian Revolution, recalling times in Tehran, Persia [at the Russian Legation?].

2pp, 4to. 41 lines, including postscript, in green ink. On aged and brittle air mail paper, with chipping and discoloration at the head, resulting in some loss to printed letterhead, but with text clear and entire. Addressed to ‘Mon cher ami’ and with valediction from ‘Ton très dévoué ami’. The recipient is unidentified, but would appear to have been a former colleague at the Russian legation in Tehran, Persia. Signed ‘Geo. S. Romanovsky’. He begins by thanking him for his congratulations. The recipient is right: ‘les choses ont changé’. Life has become less complicated: ‘l’âme ne cherche plus de choses extraordinaires, la ‘might [sic, for ‘night’] life’ fatigue. C’est le commencement de la vieillesse, nom de Dieu!’ Reference to ‘les Himenes triomphant [sic]’. Later an intriguing reference: ‘Il y a quelques jours je pensais à une nuit que nous avons passée [sic] ensemble avec le hashish, deux types de dervish et cette canaille autrichienne de Consul (rappele toi de lui, il est mort à Tauris). Je me rappelais comme c’était, drôle toute cette nuit chaude, ce “beng[”], ces poètes cités, ses cigarettes fumées ... Et le fantôme de l’Orient m’etait venu dans la chambre du “University Club” et les mûrs hyppocrytes [sic] ont rougi. Je rêve de l’orient encore, mais je doute qu’il y aie des possibilités d’y retourner. Il ne faux jamais oublir le proverbe latin “non bis in idem.” ’ He continues with a comment on the heart and emotions, concluding ‘Les meilleurs roses sont celles, que le jardinier a pantées sur du fumier!’ He ends with a conversation urging a ‘longue Conversation’ with the recipient. It will be a pleasure in ‘la tourbillon de la vie nous nous trouverons réuni’. A book will have to be written ‘ainsi que nous partîmes à Tehran’. Postscript signed ‘Geo.’ suggests that he and the recipient should write often.