TROTSKY LEON: (1879-1940) Lev Davidovich Bronstein. Russian Marxist Revolutionary, founder and first leader of the ...

TROTSKY LEON: (1879-1940) Lev Davidovich Bronstein. Russian Marxist Revolutionary, founder and first leader of the Red Army. Unusual T.L.S., `Leon Sedoff Trotsky´, signed twice, one page, folio, Istanbul, 15th November 1932, in French. The document being a power of attorney, given by Trotsky in Istanbul, in favour of Juan Andrade, a Spanish lawyer established in Madrid. The typed document bears to the upper right corner a small photograph of Trotsky in a head and shoulders pose, partially stamped with a Turkish notary office ink stamp. The power of attorney states in part `I, Leon Trotsky, fully authorize Mr. Juan Andrade…to proceed on my behalf with a legal claim in court against the company Dedalo, editors of Estampa, and against any other person having participated in the publication under my name of the book ''La Vie de Lenine'' (''Lenin´s life''), which I have never written, and which makes mine some thoughts and considerations which are diametrically opposite to mine..´ Signed twice in bold blue ink by Trotsky over few notarial Turkish post-stamps. Alongside and beneath his signatures, the Turkish Notary states `Leon Trotsky, residing at 9 Hamladji Prencipo street, Istanbul, Turkey. I, Mehmet Selahaddin bey, first Notary at Pera, … I certify the authenticity of the signature of Monsieur Léon Trotsky, known by us, signing in my presence..´ Signed at the base by the Turkish Notary, alongside several ink stamps and notarial post-stamps. To the verso the document bears several ink stamps, official post-tamps, and registration annotations, some corresponding to the Spanish consulate at Istanbul, signed by the consul, or to the Ministry of the Spanish Republic. G £1200-1800 Trotsky was deported from the Soviet Union to his exile in Turkey in 1929. During his first few months he lived at the Soviet Union Consulate in Istanbul, and later moved to the island of Buyukada, aka Prinkipo, Yanaros mansion, where he and his wife lived until July 1933. During his exile in Turkey, Trotsky was under the surveillance of the Turkish police forces of Mustafa Kemal Pasha.