January 2023 Auction Ends Thursday, January 26th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/26/2023
Excellent lot of manuscripts signed and handwritten by "Dr. Zhivago" author Boris Pasternak, dated 6 June 1959 one year after winning his Nobel Prize in Literature. In addition to an autograph letter signed, contained within a signed envelope, Pasternak also includes an original handwritten poem, titled "Wet and Cold", also signed by him. The entire collection was mailed to Julius Weder in Switzerland. Composed in purple fountain pen in German, letter translates in part,
"…I am transcribing for you the last three stanzas of one of my poems, one that describes late fall. I believe that the volume, translated beautifully into German by Dr. Keil, will soon be released by the Fischer publishing house. In Keil's translation, the poem's title is 'Nasskalt' ('Wet and Cold'). It consists of five quatrains; - due to lack of time, I am not able to copy it for you from the beginning…B. Pasternak".
Although Pasternak states that the poem was scheduled to be published, no record of it has been found. The poem translates in full,
"Wet and Cold
Heavy, like black autumn field clods,
Leaves are flopping on the pond,
Dying on the trembling surface,
Rows of them, resembling ships.
Droplets scatter as if sieved.
Pushing on, the cold stings harder
As if it all were draped in shame,
As if there were disgrace in fall.
As if there were insult and evil
In all the cawing and fluttering about,
And in the rain and in the wind
As it lashes right and left…
B. Pasternak
Peredelkino near Moscow".
Finally, the envelope, postmarked from Moscow on 7 June 1959, is signed by Pasternak in Russian, "B. Pasternaka" from Moscow.
At the time Pasternak wrote this letter, he had been ostracized after winning the Nobel Prize for "Dr. Zhivago", considered critical of communism by Soviet leaders. Pasternak didn't want to leave Russia, but the isolation is said to have strained his health, and he passed away less than a year later.
Letter measures 8" x 7.5", with bottom edge trimmed. Poem measures 8" x 10.125", and envelope measures 6.25" x 4.375". Folds to documents, with small hole at intersecting folds, and light wear to envelope, overall in very good plus condition.
Boris Pasternak Autograph Letter Signed, Autograph Poem Signed & Signed Envelope
Click above for larger image.