Collection of 6 original 19th century albumen silver print photographs of Ethan A. Hitchcock (1835-1909), first US Ambassador to Russia and Secretary of the Interior under President Theodore Roosevelt. Four of the 5 x 7 inch photographs taken in 1899, show the interior living room, dining room and library of the of Ambassador's residence and each photograph has penciled inscriptions of 1899 on the back identifying the rooms and various details. One carte de visite cabinet photograph shows E. A. Hitchcock's carriage outside what appears to be the Winter Palace of Tsar Nicholas II in St. Petersbourg The gilt beveled edge photograph measuring 5.25 x 7.25 inches, is mounted on a decorative pale grey board that measures 9.5 x 11.75 inches. Also included is an 1899 official formal portrait of Ethan A. Hitchcock the Russian Ambassador in Washington, DC taken by Barnett McFee Clinedinst (1862 - 1953) the official White House photographer. The photograph measures 8.5 x 6.25 inches and is mounted on a 12 x 9.75 inch board. The lower right corner of the photograph has the Clinedinst - Washington DC impressed stamp. The interior and exterior photographs are in good condition, the portrait has some age wear and light foxing.

Provenance: The collection of photographs descended in the Hitchcock family to their daughter Anne E. Hitchcock (pictured in photograph being presented to the Russian Czarina in 1897). Anne later married William Sowden Sims (1858-1936) who commanded all United States naval forces during World War I and whom also won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1921.

Ethan Hitchcock was in his sixties when President McKinley appointed him Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Russia in 1897 and in February 1898 Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, the first Ambassador accredited from the United States to the court of Russia. The other photographs of Russian Czar Nicholas II and Empress Alexander (of the Imperial Romanov family) being offered, also descended from the Ethan A. Hitchcock family. Scans from photographs of Anne Hitchcock and her husband Admiral Sims are included from the book Admiral Sims and the Modern American Navy by Elting E. Morrison. Scans of then Lieutenant Sims 1896 international passport with Russian stamps are also included. Finally, included is a photograph of Margaret Dwight Collier Hitchcock, mother of Anne and Margaret Hitchcock who are pictured in the below photo, dressed in their fine Parisian gowns to be presented to the Tsarina.

Please note* Lot number 323 consists only of the above listed group of 6 original photographs. The additional background photocopies provided of the Hitchcock and Russian Imperial family provided with this lot, are photocopies only and not the originals. The other original photographs are being offered in this sale and they are lot number 320, 321 and 322.