Albert Stopford
| Albert Henry Stopford | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | 16 May 1860 |
| Died | 10 February 1939 (aged 78) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Antiques/arts dealer, diplomatic courier |
Albert Henry Stopford (16 May 1860 – 10 February 1939), known as Bertie Stopford, was a British antiques and art dealer specialising in Fabergé and Cartier and diplomatic courier; he was an intimate of the Romanovs. He rescued the jewels of Grand Duchess Vladimir the Elder during the Russian Revolution.
Stopford's father, the Reverend Frederick Manners Stopford, was a grandson of the 3rd Earl of Courtown. He had been a student in arts, but was a rector between 1861 and 1912 at Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire. He had connections to Queen Victoria, King Edward VII and King George V. Stopford was able to use these connections to become a high class antique dealer.
In November 1881 Stopford lived in Belgravia. Around 1900 he was "the celebrated leader of cotillions" in London. In January 1901 he lived in Taormina, Sicily a tolerant city that also attracted Oscar Wilde, and Wilhelm von Gloeden. In 1909 Stopford met with Felix Yussupov, who showed him Arkhangelskoye Palace near Moscow. In May 1913 he was in Paris; and at some time in Salsomaggiore Terme; in March 1914 in St. Petersburg; in October 1914 in Ypres, Belgium.
At some time Stopford offered the War Office his services as the eyes and ears in Petrograd. From July 1915 till September 1917 he was staying in Grand Hotel Europe Saint Petersburg, Moscow and Tsarskoye Selo with unknown affairs. He went to the front with his friend Grand Duchess Vladimir, then to Tblisi and Kiev. Three times he went back to England for a short period, maybe carrying letters. He was friendly with Serge Obolensky. In April 1917 he visited the Grand Duchess in Kislovodsk, a spa in the Northern Caucasus. In June he met with Felix Yusupov in Yalta. In July Yusupov showed him the Moika Palace and the spot where Rasputin was murdered. In August Stopford revisited the Grand Duchess and brought her money hidden in his shoes. She supplied him with the necessary information on how to access her jewellery in the Vladimir Palace. Stopford travelled to Mogilev. He met with Muriel Paget; Stopford complained there was nothing to eat in Saint Petersburg.
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