Turnir Poetov [Tournament of Poets].

Inscribed by Kruchennykh. A scarce work and even more so inscribed. One of 150 copies, this being a presentation copy to Fedor Fedorovich Raskolnikov, a Bolshevik, Soviet diplomat and later dissident. With a striking cover designed by Kirill Zdanevich.

The pamphlet was edited by Kruchenykh and gathered his "friends' impromptus and literary parlor games" (Markov, Russian Futurism, 371). Participants were prompted to write humorous lines that rhymed with the names of Kruchenykh, contemporary musicians, as well as other poets from the circle. Evidently they also incorporated earlier lines by writers no longer living, such as Velimir Khlebnikov. Turnir Poetov was lithographed from a coated glass plate, based on the handwriting of several of the poets (their names are indicated in each edition) and printed in a very limited run.

Fedor Raskolnikov (1892-1939) was a politican, revolutionary, writer and journalist and after the Civil War became a Soviet diplomat. In 1921, Raskolnikov became the ambassador to Afghanistan, the first country that established diplomatic relations with the Soviet state. Raskolnikov's actions caused a diplomatic rift with Great Britain, and the British government insisted on his removal. As well as diplomacy he had a prolific literary career as editor in chief of Molodaia Gvardiia, Krasnaia Nov and as Chairman of the Repertory Committee.

He was later posted to Estonia, Denmark and Bulgaria but when Soviet officials recalled him from Sofia in 1938 he refused to go back, instead defecting with his family to France. In 1939 he published his famous Open Letter to Stalin in which he criticised the Great Terror and the emerging German-Soviet alliance. Shortly after the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact was signed he was admitted to an asylum and died 'falling out of a window'. Rumours circulated that he was assassinated by Sergei Efron, NKVD recruit and husband of Tsvetaeva.

Limited edition, one of 150 copies, this numbered 56 in pencil by Kruchennykh; oblong 8vo (17.6 x 22.5 cm); inscribed in red and blue pencil on the title and dated 28.12.29, rectos only, hectographically printed, one full-page illustration by Terent'ev and one in the text by Kliun; original printed wrappers, yapp edges, skilful repairs to spine, minor wear, a very good copy.