Tolstoy Bold Signature Dated 8 Months Before His Death with COA

A card signed and dated in English by legendary Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910), as "Leo Tolstoy / 1 March 1910." The card is displayed beneath the celebrated image of the bearded author, half-length portrait, facing front, arms folded, dressed in a peasant's tunic, engraved by T. Johnson, photogravure by Sherer, Nabgoltz & Co., Moscow. The signed card is lightly toned, with isolated, barely noticeable small faded water spots mentioned for accuracy. Else near fine. Matted and framed behind glass. Not examined out of frame. The size of the signed card is 3.75" x 2.25." Minor surface loss to the frame, particularly to the bottom corners. The overall frame size is 10.5" x 15.5" x 1." Accompanied by two Certificates of Authenticity from R&R Enterprises Autograph Auctions (Amherst, New Hampshire.) At the time of Tolstoy's bold, dated signature, he was not only Russia's greatest living writer, but a revered religious figure as well---more highly beloved than the Tsar. Only months later in October, 1920, this champion of and voyager with the downtrodden fled his wealthy estate at Yasnaya Polyana, leaving his luxurious home, his wife, and thirteen children to embark on an end-of-life journey by train. As he expressed it in his farewell note, he wanted to "spend the last days of my life in solitude and quiet." Tolstoy died of pneumonia at the remote Astapovo railway station in western Russia on November 7, 1910, just eight months after signing this autograph. This celebrated image of Tolstoy, together with his singular signature recognizes the posthumous sanctification of Tolstoy as a morally perfect artist/genius too good for this world, while also a deeply flawed, arrogant, and self-deceptive man. Own a legend. Book #Cv1001JM. $6200. We specialize in Rare Ayn Rand, history, and science.