Original 4.25 x 6.5 cabinet photo of an artist’s rendition of Tolstoy posing with an open book, signed below the image in black ink, “Leo Tolstoy, 1896, VII.” Notation to the reverse reads: “Signature given to my great aunt, Mrs. H. C. Walker, by Tolstoy himself.” Creasing to the upper right corner, paper loss to the lower right and upper left corners, adhesive and mounting remnants to the borders, slight silvering and fading to the image, small paper remnant affixed to right edge of the image, and mounting remnants and a trivial pencil notation to the reverse, otherwise very good condition. In 1896, Tolstoy published his well-known essay, ‘What is Art?,’ and would publish his last major work, Resurrection, just three years later. A wonderful literary pose, made more desirable as he signed with his uncommon English signature. RR Auction COA.
