STALIN VASILY: (1921-1962) Russian fighter pilot, a Lieutenant General with the Soviet Air Forces who participated in Operation Barbarossa and the Battle of Berlin during World War II. The youngest son of Joseph Stalin, upon his father´s death in 1953 Vasily Stalin was deemed dangerous by the Khrushchev administration and was arrested, imprisoned and excluded from social life. A correspondence collection of five A.Ls.S., Vasily, eleven pages (total), 8vo, n.p. (Vladimir special penitentiary), April 1956 - May 1957, most to his third wife, the Soviet Olympic athlete Kapitolina Georgievna Vasilyevna, in Cyrillic. Stalin writes a series of largely social letters, in part, ´How did you get there?....the weather is awful. I was worried about the drivers since it´s not a short distance and the road is under repair. According to conversations, this is a usual occurrence on the Moscow-Gorky road in the spring. They say that the repairs usually finish by the time you arrive at the end of May, so you will be able to travel on a more decent road....I won´t write much since we talked enough yesterday. I wish you success on your business trip. Today I read in "Soviet Sport" about the competitions in Kyiv and the poor results of Zaveratshny, Kurennoy and others during the trials. But with your assistance, maybe they will improve.......Spring is here, don´t get carried away by the sunny days; the weather is deceptive right now, and you definetly don´t need a repeat of the flu.....Wishing success and good results to all of you. Don´t let Moscow down - win! I´m cheering for you. I will keep an eye on the news through the newspapers and radio´ (16th April 1956), ´Thank you for your letter. To be honest, I didn’t think you would respond, and so quickly. You write: “together with you, I rejoice, and so on.” From a distance, this joy is certainly not the same, but I thank you for it, as it (the joy) proves that you care about my state and about me in general. If I am mistaken, I’m very sorry, but this is how I understood what you wrote. It would be good to clarify this in a meeting. Your claim-condition (although I did not approve of it, just as I did not approve of the fact that one could talk to a legally competent person) that since I am married, there is nothing for you to discuss with me and that you would not come, is now no longer valid. I am single, both legally and factually— there are no obstacles for arrival and conversation—I see none. If you decide to come, then come quickly and at any time. Regarding the “birth of a child…” I understood vaguely; clarification is also needed. But I consider this wish as a wish for good—thank you. Regarding illnesses: I would gladly send them even further than to hell, but this does not depend on me, and without boasting, I have sent them quite far, but I reached the point where I collapsed; rather, I was forcibly laid down for reasons understandable to you. I am terribly nervous and worried; this forced idleness is very costly for me´ (27th January 1957), ´I ask you to go to Evgenia Mikhailovna and pass on this note. We need to examine mother and treat her. But before treating, we need to know how. I will help as much as I can.....make her get better, even just a little´, also incorporating a letter to Lina Vasilievna Vasilyeva, the daughter of Stalin´s third wife from her first marriage, ´I waited and waited for your letter and decided to write this note.....Your letter made me very happy, but the further silence - I´ll speak frankly - did not. Let´s hope that during the holidays you can find five minutes for me´ (17th March 1957), ´What a weather we’re having! My nose is running like crazy…Everything is upside down: in March, we were waiting to undress, and now in May, we’re freezing. In such weather, the only thing to do is to sing along with Vertinsky. But he has gone and given his soul to God… I read about it today in “Soviet Russia” and it reminded me of his song: “And we drink, bitter beer…” The song is quite nice and fits this weather and my mood perfectly. The old man had some tricks, but he sang well, in my opinion. At least it was soulful, not like some young “talents” who scream with all their might. The louder they scream, the better they think they are, that’s what such a rooster believes. If we stick to that theory, then the best singers should be donkeys, as they really do scream unmatchedly. To keep warm (I’m freezing) today and after work – I worked. I “packed” your majesty’s picture into a frame. It turned out quite well, and my mood improved a bit. But the nose, the nose – I’m drowning in it these days. But they say even a runny nose is a great gift… We’ll endure. And you, my dear, didn’t catch this lovely little thing – the runny nose?! Be careful not to get sick! I worry about you. You really don’t take care of yourself. Please be cautious, I beg you´ (27th May 1957). Accompanied by five original envelopes hand addressed by Stalin. Some light age wear and a few minor tears to some edges, generally VG, 5 + 5
