A group of vintage Russian photographs from the family archive of Ivan Badyin, a sailor from the Imperial yacht STANDARD.

Five photographs + book

Extremely rare photograph, circa 1911, of Nicholas II, Czarevich Alexei, and crew of the yacht STANDARD, photographer Karl von Ghan of Tsarskoe Selo. Mounted on a photo board 9 1/2 x 11 3/4 in. (24 x 29,8 cm).

Nicholas II is wearing white (summer) uniform of a Navy officer, shoulder boards with cipher of Alexander III, an aiguillette, and a cross of the order of St. Vladimir. Czarevich Alexei is wearing an everyday sailor’s black & blue uniform and bezkozirka (a visorless Navy cap), with the name of the yacht ”STANDARD” in Russian.

Remarkably, the original owner of these photographs is seated right next to the Czar.

The back of the photo board is decorated with the Imperial warrant and the following inscription in Russian: “PHOTOGRAPHER of HIS MAJESTY’S COURT K.E. von Ghan and Co. TSARSKOE SELO.”

Note the name of the yacht and the Imperial eagle on the lifebuoy ring behind the last row of sailors.

All sailors are wearing badges in the form of a cross. It is the badge of the Guard Equipage (elite Navy unit, which incorporated crews of Imperial yachts). The badge was instituted in 1910 to commemorate the bicentennial of the Guard Equipage.

It is a very sharp, high contrast print. Even wood grain of the deck is clearly visible Condition.

Worn corners of the photo board, the upper left corner is missing. V-shaped tear, 4 in. (10 cm) long, at the lower border. The print is pretty clean. The photo board with foxing. There are some minor contact marks and scratches to the print.

Some of the above images appear yellowish. The first image from the top and the above image showing the tear are the most accurate from the point of color.

No. 2

Partially hand colored cabinet photograph of Ivan Badyin with a friend, 4 1/8 x 6 3/8 in., by photographer Yankovsky (St. Petersburg). The drop cloth in the background is decorated with flags, arms, and elements of uniforms. Inscription (above the vase with flowers) reads: “In the Memory of My Military Service.”

Inscribed in ink on back:

A gift to my dear family in the memory of my military service. This is our winter uniform, and the other person is my friend Dmitry Muhin, and me, your son Ivan Badyin. Imperial Yacht Standard, 1906 December 20th.

No. 3

Cabinet photograph, St. Petersburg, circa 1907, of Ivan Badyin in a Navy uniform with the name STANDARD on the cap, with a friend.

No. 4

Cabinet photograph, after 1910, place unknown, I.Badyin with his wife and child. He is wearing a medal bar.

No. 5

Cabinet photograph, after 1910, Yalta (Crimea), with wife and two relatives (a seaman of the Guard Equipage and a school boy).

Memorial book of the Guard Equipage, 1910, published in St. Petersburg, 7 x 9 1/8 in., a brief illustrated history of this Navy unit, 99 pages, given to sailors of the Equipage. Condition: foxing, loose pages.

This book came from the Badyin family along with the photographs.

The cover is decorated with the badge of the Guard Equipage.