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Ashley Calvert

By Repute, according to the seller - "Questi scacchi sono stati dati dalla nipote di Lenin (Olga Ulianova ) con relativa lettera a mio padre in cui dichiara le origini e l appartenenza con scrittura a mano e relative foto di incontro con mio padre e Olga Ulianova .
Questi scacchi sono stati dati a mio Padre che era Presidente della salvaguardia ai monumenti di Lenin"

Which translates as follows - 
“These chessmen were given by Lenin's niece (Olga Dmitrievna Ulyanova) with a letter to my father in which he declares his origins and membership in handwriting and a photo of his meeting with my father and Olga Ulyanova .
These chess pieces were given to my Father who was the President of the Protection of Lenin Monuments”

This historical lot comes with a signed Affidavit shown in Photos “3” - The signed affidavit is handwritten by Olga Ulyanova the daughter of Lenin's brother (Dmitry Ilyich Ulyanov).  The affidavit has been translated as follows;

“According to my father’s words, Dmitry Ilyich Ulyanov, these red and blue chess pieces belonged to his father, Ilya Nikolayevich. He has carved them out of wood himself. Vladimir Ilyich played with these chess pieces in his youth with Dmitry and his father Ilya. Many years my father has saved them carefully. I now hand them over/gift them to Roberto Napoleone - chairman of the safeguard of Lenin’s monuments.”

By repute - These chess pieces were made by Ilya Nikolaevich Ulyanov (Lenin's Father) and were played with by Lenin and his brother Dmitry Ilyich Ulyanov (the father of Olga Ulyanova). 

IIya Ulyanov (Lenins Father) is further described as handmaking a chess set in the book “V. I. Lenin The Story Of His Life” by Maria Prilezhayeva.  See Chapter The River Boat - “Its wheels turning rhythmically, the steamer was chugging up the Volga. The passengers promenaded on deck, enjoying the beautiful view. Ilya Nikolayevich came out of his cabin carrying a chessboard. He had carved each of the attractive wooden chessmen himself, and no two were exactly alike.” Prilezhayeva, M. (1973) V.I. Lenin: The story of his life. Moscow: Progress Publishers.

Lenin's interest in chess is well documented and he was known to play against fellow contemporaries. Many images of Lenin playing chess can be found online. 

A dissertation regarding chess in the Soviet Union that includes information regarding Lenin and Dmitry playing chess can be found within the following document Hudson, M.A. (2013) Storming fortresses: A political history of chess in the Soviet Union, 1917-1948. Santa Cruz: eScholarship, University of California.

This lot comes with the following additional information
- An Italian translation of Olga Ulyanova’s affidavit on Headed paper from the International Committee Lenin 
- A set of photocopies of newspaper articles relating to the Publication of Olga Ulyanova’s book on Lenin by Roberto Napoleone’s publishing house
- Articles on how Roberto Napoleone was fighting for the opening of a museum dedicated to Lenin 
- Copy of a newspaper article regarding Roberto Napoleone’s intention to purchase Lenin Memorials.
- Various Photographs of Roberto Napoleone meeting Olga Ulyanova
- Additional newspaper articles.
- A copy of COMITATO LENIN

For information - Roberto Napoleone was the President of the “International Committee Lenin” in Italy, Involved in the preservation of Lenin Monuments and the Publisher of Olga Ulyanova’s book on Lenin (Her uncle) - The book is titled “Lenin - Sulla rivoluzione d'Ottobre”

Size - King 7.5cm, Pawn 3.5cm

Note - The Chess board is from a later period.
#classicinteriorsexclusive

Russia - Late 19th century

Vladimir Lenin's - Family childhood chess pieces made by IIya Ulyanov (Lenin's Father) - Wood

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Vladimir Lenin's - Family childhood chess pieces made by IIya Ulyanov (Lenin's Father) - Wood

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