The Mondani Collection of Rolex Wrist...

Geneva, May 14, 2006

LOT 607

?Dmitri Andreyevich Tolstoy? Patek Philippe & Co., Genève, No. 30449/2257. Made in 1867, sold in March 1868 to Russian Education Minister D. Tolstoy. Very fine, 18K gold keyless hunting-cased pocket watch with Patek Philippe fitted box. Accompanied by the Extract from the Archives.

CHF 10,000 - 15,000

EUR 6,500 - 10,000 / USD 8,000 - 12,000

Sold: CHF 5,900

C. Four-body, "forme collier", engine-turned and polished, reeded borders, engine turned band. Hinged goldcuvette. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, subsidiary seconds. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. 19''', frosted gilt bar caliber, wolf's tooth winding, "moustache" lever escapement, cut bimetalliccompensation balance, blued steel flat balance spring, index regulator. Case and cuvette signed, movement numbered on the front plate. Diam. 51 mm. To be sold without reserve


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3-6

Good

Slightly oxidized
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2-01

Very good

HANDS Original

Notes

Dmitri Andreyevich Tolstoy (1823-1889) A Russian statesman and member of the State Council of Imperial Russia (1866), he was a distant relation of the writer Leo Tolstoy. As of 1853, he held a managing position at the Ministry of the Navy. Tolstoy was a procurator of the Holy Synod in 1865-1880, while simultaneously holding the post of Minister of Education (as of 1866). In 1871, Tolstoy was in charge of the college reform, which would result in emphasis on a classical education (including Latin and Greek and Ancient literature). From 1882 to 1889, he was the Interior Minister and Chief of the Gendarmerie. A supporter of strong authority in the 1880s, Tolstoy sought to uphold the nobility, regulating the life of the peasants and extending his administration's influence to local levels. The so-called "Temporary regulations", greatly limiting the freedom of press, were issued in 1882 on Tolstoy's instigation. Together with A. Pazukhin, Dmitri Andreyevich Tolstoy prepared the so-called "counter-reforms", which were to become very unpopular in Russia. The author of books on Russian history, Tolstoy was elected President of the Russian Academy of Science in 1882.