Author: Savinkov, Boris
Title: A Cryptic Letter by Russian Terrorist and Revolutionary Boris Savinkov to a Monsieur Vaughan (in French)
Description: Paris: By the Author, 1919. Softcover. Single sheet - manuscript on recto, address and cancelled stamp on verso; 4 1/2 x 6; deckled edges; slight uniform age-toning; minor crease; ink a bit faded; one word underlined in blue pencil; very good to near fine. "May 11, 1919 Dear Mr. Vaughan, I have seen Putilov again and I have had a chat with Rafalovich. They have agreed to keep their promise. I have passed along the request of M. Merigaud to Admiral Poguliaev, (4 rue Christophe Colomb), who is in charge of this kind of matter. Cordially, B. Savinkov" As one of the leaders of a terrorist branch of the Social Revolutionary Party, Savinkov was responsible for some of the most gruesome and spectacular assassinations of imperial officials at the beginning of the century. Putilov (mentioned in the letter) - was a wealthy Russian industrialist whose 'Putilov Factory' was the site of series of major strikes during WWI. Admiral Poguliaev was an ex-Navy officer living in exile. By 1919, while Savinkov was in Paris, he had managed, with Putilov and Poguliaev's help, to organize a group of rich capitalists to subsidize his organization "National Union for the Defense of Country and Freedom." His main purpose, put simply, was terror and his agents within Russia continuously gathered information on the military and general situations which was then passed on to as many foreign military missions and officials as possible. Savinkov eventually returned to Russia where he was condemned to death with his sentence later commuted to life imprisonment. He committed suicide in prison in 1925. Though not specified, the letter was most probably arranging for an exchange of classified documents and info. Ill.: 0. 2.

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