News from Spink

Spink To Sell Awards Bestowed Upon The ‘Saviour’ Of The Russian Imperial Family

On the 22nd of November 2007 Spink will hold its next medals, orders and decorations auction in London. Amongst the highlights of the sale are the honours and awards bestowed upon General Thiébault Charles Maurice Janin (1862-1946), Commanding Officer of the Czech Legion, and one of the three most senior Allied Officers during the Allied Intervention in Russia, 1918-20.

A Parisian by birth, he was a controversial figure prominent in the Russian Imperial Court of Tsar Nicholas II during a period of high intrigue.

After the infamous murder of the Russian Imperial Family it is reported by several contemporary sources, including Pierre Gilliard, the French tutor of the Tsar’s children (1905-18), that Janin carried out of Russia the human remains and effects of the Imperial Family on a high speed train from under the clutches of the Bolshevik agents charged with retrieving the damning evidence.

Janin was quoted in an article featured in Time Magazine, 7.7.1924, ‘‘General Janin [onetime head of the French Mission in Siberia] has spoken. It appears that the General was given several urns of human ashes by the Russian General Diterichs and M. Gilliard, tutor to the little Tsarevitch. Thsre gruesome relics he handed over to M. de Giers, quondam Russian Ambassador to Rome, and the latter has, apparently, handed them over to the Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolairvitch, cousin of the Tsar and leader of the world scattered Russian Monarchists.  Describing the contents of the urns, General Janin said: "To me fell the difficult charge of bringing to France, for Grand Duke Nikolai, the remains of the Emperor Nicholas II, of the Empress, of the Tsarevitch Alexis, of the young Grand Duchesses and of two servants. These poor remains could no longer be separated. The ashes of the Sovereign were mixed with those of his faithful valets. All that was recognizable was a finger, held by experts to belong to the Empress because it was that of a middle-aged woman and its nail had been carefully manicured. There was also - with calcined precious stones, the remains of burnt clothing, the buckle of the Tsarevitch's sword belt, military buttons, some portable icons, and other objects of piety - a shapeless little mass of human grease!" The Monarchists, headed by the Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaievitch, however, declined to reveal the present resting place of the urns and all that could be obtained by diligent newsmen were multiplex corroborations of General Janin's tale. It has been rumoured that the whole story of the ashes is pure propaganda for the Russian Monarchist cause, but this is not borne out by the facts of the case.'

The General's memoirs, Ma Mission en Siberie, 1918-20, were published in later life.

There are eighteen lots in the collection ranging in price from £20 to £60,000 with orders and awards from Belgium, France, Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Russia and Serbia and two of the General’s swords. 

About Spink

Spink is the world’s leading auctioneer of coins, stamps, medals and banknotes.  Since its foundation in 1666, the Spink name has become synonymous with tradition, experience and integrity. Holder of three royal warrants and numerous records for prices achieved at auction, Spink offers an unparalleled range of services to collectors worldwide.  Spink is headquartered in London and holds over 35 auctions a year around the globe.  In June 2006 Spink shattered the world record for a British Coin sold at auction with the sale of the Double Leopard Gold Coin for a staggering £460,000.

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