Books

First edition, copy "N" of 15 lettered copies printed on vélin pur fil blanc for private distribution, presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title "6/IX [i.e. 6 September] 1929 My best regards L. Trotsky". The text was written during Trotsky's exile, and first published here in French translation by Victor Serge. It did not appear in Russian until 1931 and not in English until 1937, under the title "Stalin School of Falsification". Trotsky seeks to vigorously refute the alleged Stalinist falsehoods levied against his record, views, and position in the revolution. A possible contender as the recipient of this copy was Ivor Montagu (1904-1984), a prominent member of the Communist Party of Great Britain, film critic and director (including collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock), and founder of the International Table Tennis Federation. Montagu began a correspondence with Trotsky in early July 1929, while the latter was exiled on the island of Prinkipo in Turkey. Trotsky's letters to Montagu are housed in the Houghton Library at Harvard. In a letter dated 22 September 1929, a fortnight after this inscription, Trotsky wrote to Montagu "Have you received my book in French 'The Disfigured Revolution' and my brochure in German?". The next day he wrote "by the way, I hope that you have received my work in French". Octavo. Original orange wrappers printed in black. Housed in custom card solander box. Spine and extremities neatly restored, spine lettering retouched in pen facsimile, half-title and terminal leaf a little spotted else contents clean. A very good copy.

Leon Trotsky's comprehensive critique on how the Russian Revolution was distorted over time.