Leo Tolstoy

"I have received your offering and heartily thank you for it in the name of those whose sufferings will be relieved thanks to your charity."

During the famine that struck Russia's Black Earth region and the Volga basin, Tolstoy was one of the most active organizers of relief. He helped establish soup kitchens, raised funds, and used his international reputation to draw attention to the suffering of the rural farmers. He openly criticized the tsarist government and the Orthodox Church for their inadequate response to the crisis, a stance that likely contributed to his excommunication in 1901.

Condition: Lightly toned with smoothed folds and minor creasing. Short separation at the left edge of the center horizontal fold, not affecting text. Minor offset from Tolstoy's signature where letter was folded.

"You will oblige me not to speak of it": Tolstoy's cautious 1905 letter on Georgia's revolution

ALS in French, signed “Leon Tolstoy,” one page, 4.25 x 6.5, February 8, 1905. Handwritten letter from the early days of unrest in the Russian Empire, sending one of his many visitors a postscript to the topics discussed during a visit concerning the revolutionary movement in Georgia. After the visit, Tolstoy remembered that a correspondence he had written about the events in Georgia could jeopardize the cause, and he therefore asked the recipient to keep silent about it. He writes, in full (translated): "The idea came to me after your departure that correspondence on the movement taking place in Georgia, especially from me, could jeopardize the cause. You will oblige me not to speak of it.” In fine condition, with light creasing and some small stains.In his diary, Tolstoy noted the visit of the Georgian revolutionary M. K. Kipiani on January 29, 1905, who informed Tolstoy about the widespread anti-government opposition in Georgia and the people's takeover of government affairs. Besides working on several books, Tolstoy was particularly occupied at that time with his general critique of the government, 'Edinoe na Potrebu,' which was also published in English that same year ('The One Thing Needful').

Leo Tolstoy 1828 - 1910

Seraphin Gallery, Philadelphia, PA Rare Autographs and Documents