LOT-R18. For your consideration is an exceedingly rare and historically important original antique c.1886 Royal Imperial Russian Romanov official Cabinet Card CDV photograph of Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg, hand-signed "Alexandra". Royal presentation cabinet card measures approximately 1.5 " 2.25". Based on our research, this is the smallest format cabinet card made. For that reason, it is extremely scarce. In fact, this is the only known signed version of this format to exist, according to the Royal Collection Trust. Museum quality.  One of a kind. Guaranteed authentic. 

Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna of Russia (born Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg, 8 July 1830 – 6 July 1911) was the fifth daughter of Joseph, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg and Duchess Amelia of Württemberg.

Alexandra's parents were married on 24 April 1817, at Kirchheim unter Teck. Alexandra had five sisters: Marie, Pauline, Henriette, Elisabeth, and Luise.

Alexandra's portrait was painted by the fashionable court artist Joseph Karl Stieler.

where she taught classes herself. There were also educational toys for the children: a wooden mast and trampoline for gymnastics, and the transplanted cabin of one of Konstantin's frigates.

A year after their marriage Konstantin inherited the Pavlovsk Palace, situated 19 miles to the south of St Petersburg, from his uncle Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich. The public was admitted to the fine park in its grounds. The Grand-Ducal family supported an impressive concert hall situated at Pavlovsk station, which proved popular with the middle classes, and attracted names such as Johann Strauss II, Franz Liszt, and Hector Berlioz.

Alexandra and Konstantin later acquired the palace of Oreanda in Crimea, which had originally been built by Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna and left to her second son for his retirement.

Konstantin and Alexandra had 6 children:

Nikolai Konstantinovich (1850–1918); married 1882, Nadejda Alexandrovna von Dreyer.

Olga Konstantinovna, Queen of the Hellenes (1851–1926); married 1867, George I of Greece and is a grandmother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Vera Konstantinovna (1854–1912); married 1874, Duke Eugen of Württemberg.

Konstantin Konstantinovich (1858–1915); married 1884, Princess Elisabeth of Saxe-Altenburg.

Dmitry Konstantinovich (1860–1919); died unmarried.

Vyacheslav Konstantinovich (1862–1879); died unmarried.