The notes are sometimes disconnected with the image itself, as Stalin speculates about general philosophical matters, such as “One thoughtful fool is worse than 10 enemies”; “Born to crawl will never fly”. Others reflect Stalin’s opinion of the image, though it’s hard to believe that Stalin appeals directly to the people on the pictures, he rather associates them with someone else. For example, commenting on “Man with sword” he wrote, “This one will knock out the truth!” while the “Sleeping girl” sketch was signed, “She must be a poor student! Just look at her leaden sleep!” The sketch “Young man with stick in his hand” was captioned, “The strongest comrade! The Soviet David is going to chop the world imperialism. Let’s help him!”

The third group of notes addressed political figures, both living and dead during the Stalin’s era. Among these, the most interesting is the inscription dedicated to Karl Radek, Stalin’s political opponent, killed per Stalin’s order, “The redhead bastard Radek! Had you not peed upwind and been so angry, you’d still be alive!” Such an inscription, according to experts, not only proves that Stalin was responsible for the murder of Radek, but also that he deeply regretted what he had done.

To view the gallery with original autographs, click here.

It still remains a mystery as to how “the leader of all times and people” acquired the sketches, but a graphological examination proved the handwriting is authentic and belonged to Stalin.

The organizers are hoping to clear the air about the purpose of such inscriptions with Stalin’s daughter, Svetlana Allilueva, but reasonably doubt that, known to have had a very strained relationship with her father, Allilueva might not be willing to delve too deeply into this matter.

The unique collection was presented by the family of a former Cheka agent who preferred to remain nameless. Striking though it seems, it was a common practice for Stalin’s associates to treat themselves to Stalin’s possessions before and more extensively, after his death.

Nikita Petrov, a Doctor of Philosophy at the “Memorial” historic and educational center, says “Such genre was part of the common entertainment among Soviet leaders, as they made sketches of each other and wrote notes, many of these notes being of a derogatory nature. In the case of Stalin, we have a totally different type of product.”

Recent psychiatric research overrules the many allegations claiming these inscriptions pointed to Stalin’s paranoid condition. One of the current interpretations suggested that that he just had minor mental disorders, since, being a very lonely man inside, he simply used these drawings as companions, and talked to them. Stalin’s choice of nude pictures by no means reveals a latent homosexual in him, as had been repeatedly suggested, but has a different revelation. Yury Pankov, the head of the “Autographs of the century” publishing house and the chair of the organization panel, commented, “The psychoanalysis proved that there was no serious pathology, just the savage brutal aggression he expresses in a natural masculine way. The hatred he directs at all men is rooted in the hatred toward his father.”

The discrepancy between Stalin’s image of a ruthless dictator and his artistic revelations might seem surprising, but not for Edvard Radzinsky, the renowned Russian historian and expert on Stalin, “In reality, these were the so-called jokes… This is what Lenin appreciated him for – for knowing how to talk to people in their own language… Stalin was different. As a dictator and actor, he felt the mood, felt the crowd, and the crowd demanded this filth.”

He also noted that such an ambivalent attitude to Stalin’s figure in our country depends on the current political agenda. The image of humane and joking Stalin will dominate in a more liberal atmosphere, while any crackdown will normally be accompanied by imposition of excessive respect towards Stalin.

The organizers plan to put the sketches on display in St Petersburg and Kiev. In Moscow, the exhibition will be open till December 24.