Handwritten 4 page letter to Ekaterina Erastovna Zborovskai͡a describing the life of the Imperial family in exile in Tobol'sk. Includes original envelope postmarked January 20, 1918.

Rough English translation:

No. 25 19 january 1918 Tobolsk 3 p.m.

Katia, my darling:

Many thanks once more for your pictures. It is such a pleasure to have them all. I think you all look wonderful in them. I would have sent you our pictures, but I am sure that they will reach somebody who does not need them at all. My sister and I wrote today letters to you through P[ankratov]*, but this letter I am sending directly to you, bypassing him; so I put the same number [on this letter]. It is so sad that Al. I? has never received any letter; it is such a pity; I just cannot understand, why?… So we think it would be better to write the address of A.S.Demidova, the Governor’s House on the envelopes; maybe they will reach us safer, I hope!. We often think of you all dear… Vera wrote to us that poor Al. Konst. is constantly sick. What is wrong with him, and how did he get so sick? How are Iuzik, Serg. Iv., and the rest of them? If you can, please pass on our warm and kind regards to them. Has Nik. Il[ich] already come, and have you seen him? I always want to know a lot about you, but do not ask questions because other people [the strangers?] do not need to know about it… Are you still walking along the main street? … How is Nina doing? How do you spend your time? Tell Vict[or] that I was very glad to see how beautifully he wears his service-cap; it is just good enough to eat! Don’t you know where Shakh-Naz. is? Many thanks to Taran for his regards, but I cannot remember where we might have seen him and who he is; but anyway, pass on our regards to him, too. If anything is not clear enough for Ir., would it be too much trouble for you to read this letter [to her]? Today I kindly got up, as I have been lying about for several days. Well, you already know this from no. 25. I wonder which letter will reach you first […]? Do not express your gratitude for this letter; just answer my questions; then I will know that you have received it. – Do you often see Evg. Mikh. and Nik. Vas. ? – You ask whether we received those pictures that had been taken at the market. – We received them; those where you and Vera are standing and two other pictures depicting Evg, D. At the same time, we got a letter from Al. K. and a postcard from N. V. and A. A. There were no letters from you nor any postcard from B[…?]. In general, I have not received many of your letters, including the one where you describe your stay in a camp, remember? I have not received letters nos. 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29 – all these letters that you wrote to this address; it is so sad that I have not received them!. – Do you often see Evg. D’s nieces? The weather is pretty cold and it is also quite “wintery” in the rooms. – Our Christmas tree is still standing; it has not started losing its needles yet; it is so nice. Don’t think that the letters addressed to A.S. Demid[ova] arrive in a different way. They are examined the way our letters are, but we believe that the letters to her are of a less interest to these people [who examine the letters]. Well, Katia, my good Katia, I forgot what I wanted to write. A lot of different things are sitting in my mind at once, and I have to think of what I am going to write, so that there is [not] too much; otherwise there will be many unnecessary things. – Have you received my letter no. 24? I hope you have. Now everybody is getting ready to go for a walk, and I do not know what they are doing right now. When I had to stay in bed they came back from their walks and told me everything that had happened in the street and other things. Now it is 20 degrees below zero and the wonderful bright sun [is shining]. What is Garia[?] doing? Does his shoulder still hurt? Pass on to him my kindest regards and tell him I am so touched that he writes to me, and so on, you understand?…Our warmest and best regards to your other brothers. Tell [them] that we think and talk of them awfully often, a lot, and for a long time and, of course, all good things. What is your Vlad[imir] doing? My regards to him. If you can, please pass on our kindest regards to A.K. Well, they all went out, and I am here with Mama, and, of course, with my little Jim. It was 2 degrees below zero recently, such a change in the weather. – We also have not received any letters from Ver[a] Georg[ievna]; I do not know why. I am always so glad to get letters from you; I look forward to them. It is so funny that they use very big sledges to deliver mail; and the sledges always have bells. It reminds me of Shrove-tide. It is also very funny to see how the peasants are dressed; they all wear fur coats that are called goose (gus?) here, and crimson valenki [felt boots]; they look good enough to eat. This and many other funny things I cannot explain properly. Now I am finishing this letter, Katia, my darling. I kiss you many times, and our Mama too, and we all send the warmest regards to Victor. My sisters kiss you. I wish you al the best, my sweet one. May Christ protect all our dear ones. I kiss and love you.

[Note: *Pankratov was a Commissar from the Provisional Government in Tobolsk, assigned to be a censor of the Royal family's correspondence.]