2-715-160 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Queen Catherine II, (1936). 'Kaiserin Katharina II'. Portrait of Catherine the Great (1729-1796), who ruled as Empress of Russia from 1762 until 1796, the country's longest-ruling female leader and arguably the most renowned. She came to power following a coup d'état when her husband, Peter III, was assassinated. Russia was revitalised under her reign, growing larger and stronger than ever and becoming recognised as one of the great powers of Europe. From "Bilder Deutscher Geschichte", (Pictures of German History), No.12, cigarette card album. [Cigaretten-Bilderdienst, Altona-Bahrenfeld, Hamburg, Germany, 1936]