HISTORY - MANNERHEIM Carl Gustav Emil (1867 -... Lot n° 488

At the age of fourteen, he entered the cadet military school, but was expelled for indiscipline. He decided to become a professional soldier and entered the St Petersburg cavalry school. He took part in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. The 1917 revolution in Russia put an end to his Russian career. He returned to Finland, where he reformed the army. After the war, he worked for the Red Cross. During the Second World War, he held not only military but also political posts, and was appointed President of the Finnish Republic. In 1946, he resigned and retired to Switzerland. Signed printed photograph applied to cardboard in-16, dated Lugano, 1943; Typed letter signed and dated Crans sur Sierre, 25.02.1947 to Paul Langer: "… je suis heureux de pouvoir passer une nouvelle fois quelques semaines en Suisse …” with accompanying letter.