The Fabulous: Budapest, Paris, and London
Alexei Abrikosov (1875-1955) is known today as a Russian physician and the man, who mummified Vladimir Lenin, founder of the USSR, still preserved for the public to see in Moscow's Red Square.
These photographs, however, have little to do with the life of Dr. Abrikosov in the Communist Russia. They belong to his life before the Revolution, a life, which for a long time had to be concealed.
 Big Ben, Palace of Westminster, and Westminster Bridge, London, England, 1905-1908. Standing: Tatiana Vl. Abrikosova-Voytkevich and Dmitry Abrikosov |  St. James’s Park and Duke of York Monument behind The Royal Society. London, England,1905-1908. |
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 New Oxford Street in London. James Smith & Sons Sticks and Umbrellas store since 1830 (right); D. Gestetner’s Rotary Cyclostyles (left), and the famous Vienna Café straight ahead. London, England, 1905-1908. |  Mappin & Webb bro. store. London, England, 1905-1908. |
 Westminster Abbey. London, England, 1905-1908. |  Taximeter. London, England, ca. 1908. In top hat: Alexei Iv. Abrikosov. |
 Elephant ride in Regents Park. London, England, 1905-1908. |  Big Ben and the Parliament, London, England, 1905-1908. |
 Chain Bridge. Budapest, Hungary, ca. 1908. |  Klotild Palaces with a view of Elizabeth Bridge. Budapest, Hungary, ca. 1908. |
 Millennium Monument, Heroes Square. The Chariot of Peace completed, but not yet installed, its two horses waiting to be lifted above the colonnade. , Budapest, Hungary, ca. 1908. |  A unique photo of the Hall of Art (Műcsarnok). The Chariot of War is at its temporary location waiting to be installed above the colonnade of the Millennium Monument. Heroes Square, Budapest, Hungary, ca. 1908. |
 Walking from the Buda to the Pest side over the Chain Bridge. Next bridges over: Elizabeth Bridge in its shape before World War II and Franz Joseph Bridge (today Liberty Bridge). Budapest, Hungary, ca. 1908. |  Kossuth Lajos Street facing Rakosci Prospect and Blaha Lujza Square. A large building with a tetrahedral dome in the distance exists today. Next to it is the Church of St. Roch (Szent Rókus kápolna). Budapest, Hungary, ca. 1908. |
 A boat tour approaches Chain Bridge with Szilágyi Dezső Square Reformed Church in the distance. Budapest, Hungary, ca. 1908. |  Front entrance to Országos Kaszinó ("Gentry Club"), a renowned political club in Kossuth Lajos Street. Budapest, Hungary, ca. 1908. |
 Heroes Square, Millennium Monument, Budapest, Hungary, ca. 1908. |  Arc de Triomphe. Paris, France, 1905-1908. |
 Garden of Versailles, Paris, France, 1905-1908. |  Boulevard des Italiens. Paris, France, 1905-1908. |
 Avenue de l'Opera and Place du Théâtre Français (now Place André Malraux). Leather goods store Moynat and Grand Restaurant Delpuech. Paris, France, 1905-1908. |  Madeleine Church and Rue Royal. Paris, France, 1905-1908. |
Alexei Abrikosov comes from the Abrikosovs' confectionery empire, the largest in the 19th century Russia. His brother Dmitry was a diplomat stationed in London in 1905-1908. From there, the brothers made trips to Paris and Budapest, where Alexei took beautiful photos of popular tourist sites and street scenes.
Dmitry Abrikosov is the author of Revelations of a Russian Diplomat, U. of Washington, Seattle, 1964.
Alexei Abrikosov is the father of Alexei A. Abrikosov, a condensed matter physicist and winner of the Noble Prize in physics.
From the archives of N.Yu. Abrikosova
Attribution of Budapest photos: Anna Chaykovskaya, http://gidvbudapeste.hu/