The Grand Duke Alexis in the United States of America, during the Winter of 1871-72 (Custeriana Series)

221, [3] pp. 8vo. 1972 reissue of the 1872 original, with a new preface (John M. Carroll) and introduction (Jeff Dykes). Important for the information it provides about General George A. Custer -- the Grand Duke, during a visit to the United States, accompanied Custer and Buffalo Bill on a hunting trip (remembered as "The Great Royal Buffalo Hunt"), which led to a friendship between Custer and the duke. "Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia,(Russian: ??????? ?????????????; 14 January 1850 (2 January O.S.) in St. Petersburg – 14 November 1908 in Paris) was the fifth child and the fourth son of Alexander II of Russia and his first wife Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse). Chosen for a naval career, Alexei Alexandrovich started his military training at the age of 7. By the age of 20 he had been appointed lieutenant of the Imperial Russian Navy and had visited all Russia's European military ports. In 1871, he was sent as a goodwill ambassador to the United States and Japan. In 1883 he was appointed general-admiral. He had a significant contribution in the equipment of the Russian navy with new ships and in modernizing the naval ports. However, after the Russian defeat in the Battle of Tsushima in 1905, he was relieved of his command. He died in Paris in 1908."