Page 7 - Russo-Persian Postal Relations

1.A.1 Preussen establish Diplomatic Mission in Persia in 1860
assisted by Russian diplomats in Persia
A Special Mission to Persia 1860/61 led by Count Julius von Minutoli, the famous ex-police-
chief of Berlin, was organized in order to open a permanent mission in the country
Minutoli's position was Prussian Minister-resident and Consul-General to Persia

Purpose: As a result of the Shah of Persia's interest and visits to Europe to study its culture and socio-
economic development Preussen like some other European countries also explored the possibility of
developing trade

LEGATION DE PRUSSE en PERSE

Cover sent before Count Minutoli died of cholera 5 November 1860 in Shiraz

""I
BEIP.I\.C \ll. . \ '
.'3

I>

,.
.,. · .. \Tl n :-, ·r.
LLI· l .f ~ l' T I L_' 44
I \,I
.J.
L. von Minutoli's hand writin g

Mail route: Diplomatic courir Count Julius von Minutoli The "Konigliche General-
Teheran-Tabriz-Tiflis, Russian direktion der Seehandlungs-
Caucasus-Trabezond-lstanbul- Sozietii.t" was a state-owned
into the German courir mail to Prussian trading enterprise,
Berlin - via Vienna founded in 1 772.
Front of the cover:
It was originally a maritime
!BERLIN.CAB. EXPED/30 8*9 10j
Berlin Cabinett expediert - trading company but had by
Berlin Cabinett expedited • 9 10-time the time become something
similar to a state bank for the
In hand writing: Kingdom of Prussia
An die Konigliche General-
Direktion der Seehandlungs-
Sozietii.t zu Berlin
Born 30 August1804
Brief der Prl5. Ministerien Died 5 November 1860

As a result ofvon Minutoli's death the Mission was dissolved early 1861. Not to be reopened until 1885
as a German Embassy

Von Minutoli made friendship with the Russian Consul at Recht and was invited to use the Russian
diplomatic mail via Astrakhan to St. Petersburg (and finally Berlin)
Reference: von Minutoli's stay in Persia: See "Reisen im Auftrag preussischer Kiinige gezeichnet von Julius von Minutoli", ed. by
Dorothea Minkels who is President for "th e Society of the family von Minutoli" (Minutoli-Gesellschaft Berlin e.V.)
Mrs Min kels also states the handwriting belon gs to von Minutoli.