the hinged lid applied with a parcel-gilt silver plaque engraved in French 'The President of the French Republic Émile Loubét', below an enamel seal of the French Republic with crossed French and Russian flags, the lid further applied with a spray of tobacco leaves and a trompe l'oeil cigar band, raised bead and leaf tip borders, the sides applied with silver fleurons, the hinged front with keyhole escutcheon engraved with details of the Saatchi & Mangoubi tobacco company, its cover with the Imperial Russian arms, the silk-lined interior with two tiers of hinged trays, the underside of the lid with gilt French inscription 'Suppliers to the Court of his Majesty the Emperor of Russia, Company of the Tobacco Factory, Saatschy & Mangouby, St Petersburg' beneath the Imperial Warrant, 84 standard, with original key

Presented to French President Émile Loubet by the Russian tobacco company Saatchi & Mangoubi during the French State Visit to St Petersburg, 1902

Very good condition. The front panel with small dent and wear to the gilding. The gilding of the lid very slightly worn. One support of the folding sections loose, lacking a screw, and the lock mechanism not functioning with the lid slightly ill-fitting. The leather with light wear to the underside and otherwise in excellent order.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

On the occasion of his State Visit to Russia in 1902, Émile Loubet was lavished with a number of gifts, the grandest of which were photographed for a two-page article in the journal Niva (illustrated, U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System, 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, pp. 336-337). Two years before the visit he had been created a Knight of the Order of St Andrew, having already been made a Knight of the Order of St Alexander Nevsky in 1896.  In reciprocation of Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna's State Visit to Paris (see previous lot), these gifts were no doubt made in recognition of Loubet's capabilities as an international peacemaker and were symbolic of the trade which would flourish as a result.

The firm of Saatchi & Mangoubi, founded in 1868 and designated Purveyor to the Imperial Court in 1895, were perhaps not courting the French President's favour so much as they were thanking him.  They had been given the right to sell their products in France in 1894, a market which proved highly successful for them.  They had also won a gold medal at the 1900 Paris Exhibit🅰ion.