Lot 1054

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Description:

JOSEF STALIN
(1879 - 1953) Soviet Premier and dictator who reorganized the government and army through bloody purges of his political enemies, allied with the Nazis who then turned on him and invaded the Soviet Union, costing 20 million lives. Very rare A.N.S. to his son, 1p. sm. 8vo., [n.p., n.d.], penned in his typical thick red grease pencil on a sheet of brown paper taken from a book that was given to his son Vasili to read. In full: "Vasya! Read this book then tell me about it! J. Stalin". This signed page was originally part of the book Man Changes His Skin by Futurist pro-Communist Polish poet Bruno Jasienski (1901-1939). First published in 1934, the work was considered a Soviet "industrial" novel that glorified the Communist system. Vasili Stalin (1921-1962) became a Soviet Air Force pilot and one of the youngest generals of World War II. Following his father's death, the younger Stalin was tried and imprisoned for misappropriation of funds and anti-Soviet activities, after which he was banished to Kazan where de died of alcoholism. According to the catalog listing from the auction house from which it was obtained, the page originated from a childhood friend of Stalin's son named Chlonkovsky Ian Leonovich, who related the following in a typescript which is included with the lot: "From 1924 to 1938 I was attending a special school...together with Vasilij Stalin. We were very close...In 1936 Vasilij gave me the book to read by Bruno Yasenskij. The book was prohibited in 1937. Yasenskij' was declared enemy to the nation and my father took off this page with Stalin's note and buried the book". Accompanied by a vintage photograph of Vasili, Leonvich and another boy. Very good condition, a certain rarity.

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July 22, 2011 11:30 AM EDT
Stamford, CT, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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