Soviet political leader (1870–1924) who provided the guiding spirit of the October Revolution, which led to the downfall of the Russia’s imperial government and the birth of the Soviet Union. Lenin’s impassioned Marxist beliefs and personal charisma as first head of the Soviet state helped set the nation on a course that would have far-reaching, global ramifications until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Extremely rare ALS in German, signed “Lenin,” and also signed in the text, “Ulyanov,” one page, 5.25 x 8.5, no date [but postmarked January 16, 1917]. Letter to Hern Berger. In full (translated): “Dear Comrade! Comrade Bronski will be coming to see me tomorrow, Wednesday, 7 1/2 PM. Please come along. Address: Ulianov to Spiegelgasse 14, 2nd floor (at Kammerer's) Zurich 1 (a few steps from Eintracht). With kind regards.” Small separation to one edge of central horizontal fold, some light wrinkling and creasing, and a mild shade of overall toning, otherwise fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in Lenin’s hand to Berger, with his proper last name, “Ulyanov,” written in the return address area on the bottom of the reverse of the envelope.
As 1917 began, Lenin was in exile living in Zurich. He had failed to convince the Zimmerwald Conference to transform the imperialist war into a class war. He was out of sync with the popular opinion of his countrymen, and a revolution was starting in Russia without him. He could tell that change was coming and that he needed to be at the front of it. Here, he writes to a supporter encouraging him to meet with Lenin and Mieczyslav Bronski, a Polish socialist leader. A few weeks after this scheduled meeting, Bronski would bring news of Tsar Nicholas II's abdication of the throne and he would find his way across war torn Europe back to Russia. Along the way he would write his April Theses to ramp up the support that lead to the October Revolution and his ascension to power. Letters by Lenin with his real name of "Ulyanov" written are extremely scarce, as are those in German, making this a very desirable piece from his last dark days before his meteoric rise to power. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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