Maxim Gorky
Russia, ca. 1898
Maxim Gorky Cabinet Card Inscribed to Leonid Andreev, Early in Acquaintance!
Signed Cabinet Card

An early photograph of Maxim Gorky inscribed to Leonid Andreev. Measuring 4.25" x 6.5", n.p. [Nizhny Novgorod], n.d. [c.1898]. A sepia toned cabinet card of Gorky, photographed wearing a hat and a wool overcoat while seated and holding a cane. Photographed by M. Duumpiebr. Signed on the mount "M. Gorky" and "A. Peshkov" on verso. With a lengthy inscription in Russian on verso to Leonid Nikolaievich [Andreev], containing a biblical quotation and a promise of a drinking session. Intricate M. Duumpiebr backstamp on verso. With soiling and light rubbing to the card edges. Light toning and scattered soiling throughout. Boldly signed. Overall very good. Only two inscribed photographs from Gorky to Andreev are known, and the present photograph, with its extraordinary inscription, is undoubtedly the earlier of the two. A remarkable piece that denotes the beginnings of a pivotal literary relationship.

The inscription on verso has been translated to read:
"As a reply to your soulful letter, I recall here the wisest words known to me: 'fear does not beget grief, nor does a ground give rise to misfortune, but man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward.' This is said by Job, chapter 5, verses 6-7. / Good book, I recommend it; it contains a sea of wisdom. As for getting stumbling drunk with you ? I will, for it is not only a delight for me, but also a duty."

Alexei Maximovich Peshkov (1868-1936), known popularly as Maxim Gorky, was a radial Russian and Soviet writer and socialist political advocate. He rubbed elbows with fellow Russian writers Leo Tolstoy and Anton Chekhov and was nominated five times for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Gorky was active in the emerging Marxist communist movement and later the Bolshevik. He publicly opposed the Tsarist regime and for a time closely associated himself with Vladimir Lenin. For a significant part of his life he was exiled from Russia, but returned to the USSR in 1932 on Joseph Stalin's personal invitation. Gorky had a crucial impact on the early career of author and playwright Leonid Andreev (1871-1919).

Andreev first came to Gorky's attention while working as a police-court reporter. He had started publishing a few poems, and Gorky was impressed by his talents after reading Andreev's earliest published story, "Bargamot and Garaska" in 1898. Through Gorky's mentoring, which included introducing Andreev to the "Sreda" literary group and publishing his works in his Znanie collections, Andreev eventually gave up his career in law and devoted himself fully to his literary career. With the publication of his first collection in 1901, Andreev quickly became a literary celebrity. He is regarded as one of the most talented and prolific representatives of the Silver Age literary period. Over the course of his life he completed 25 plays, with his 1915 play "He Who Gets Slapped" being regarded as his finest work.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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4.25" x 6.5"