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923 - TROTSKY L.D. (1879–1940), AUTOGRAPH
See original version (French)

Estimate €2,500 - €3,000
Sale commission
Description
TROTSKY L.D. (1879–1940), AUTOGRAPH Letter signed ‘L. Trotsky’, addressed to Gérard Rosenthal. Constantinople, 26 October 1929 1/2 folio page, typewritten. In French. 28 x 22 cm. Rare in French. Leon Trotsky had signed a contract with the publisher Frédéric Rieder for the publication of French translations of three of his books: ‘The Revolution Betrayed’, ‘The Communist International’ and ‘My Life’. Difficulties arose, particularly regarding his autobiography, as Trotsky was dissatisfied with the first translation and objected to the title ‘Memoirs’ which the publisher wished to impose. ‘Dear Comrade Gérard, I am enclosing an “official” letter concerning my – truly unfortunate – dealings with Rieder. […] I believe that Rieder is either bankrupt or is quite simply stealing from me, without even having that excuse […]. I would be very grateful if you could intervene; this has become absolutely necessary and urgent. […]’ One of Trotsky’s leading supporters and his legal representative in France, Gérard Rosenthal (1903–1992), was initially close to the Surrealists, amongst whom he met Pierre Naville. He joined the newspaper *Clarté* with Pierre Naville in 1926 and became a member of the Communist Party in 1927, whilst criticising some of its political positions. He was called to the Paris Bar in 1928. He moved closer to the Russian opposition, spent some time in Boris Souvarine’s circle, and was expelled from the Communist Party in May 1928. Elected to the Executive Committee of the Communist League in April 1930, he was also a member of the Central Committee of the Internationalist Workers’ Party (1936–1939). During the war, he took part in the Resistance in the maquis. It was in 1928, during the ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution in Moscow, that he met Trotsky, who had just been expelled from the Bolshevik Party. When Trotsky settled in Turkey in 1929, he visited him and forged political, professional and personal ties with him. He took part in the activities of the group centred around the newspaper *La Vérité*, supported Trotsky as a lawyer in the dispute arising from the publication in France of his autobiography *My Life*, accompanied him to Copenhagen in 1932 and put him up at his father’s house in 1935, on the eve of his forced departure for Norway. Finally, he investigated the suspicious death of Trotsky’s son, Leon Sedov, and was tasked with locating his grandson, Sieva Volkov, and entrusting him to Alfred Rosmer, which was done in May 1939. At the buyer’s request, we shall be happy to provide a general report on the condition of the lot described above. However, as we are not professional conservators or restorers, we strongly advise potential buyers to carry out their own inspection or to consult a specialist of their choice to obtain a full assessment of the lot’s condition. Descriptions of items provided in the catalogue or by correspondence are for guidance only and should not be regarded as a definitive assessment. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSION REGARDING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD ‘AS IS’, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE PUBLISHED IN THE CATALOGUE.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale RARE BOOKS & MANUSCRIPTS: Antique books § Autographs, rare editions, photographs § Works on paper
Auction location
Auction time 10/29/2026 at 2:30 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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