TROTSKY LEON: (1879-1940) Russian Marxist Revolutionary, Founder and first

TROTSKY LEON: (1879-1940) Russian Marxist Revolutionary, Founder and first Leader of the Red Army. An unusual D.S., L Trotsky, in Cyrillic, one page, oblong 4to, n.p. [Petrograd?], 7th May 1918, in Cyrillic. The typed document bears a 2 x 3 portrait photograph affixed to left border, and is a pass for a French military officer. Trotsky, in his capacity as People´s Commissar of Military and Naval Affairs of the Soviet Union and Chairman of the Supreme Military Council, issues a pass stating `The bearer hereof is in fact a French service Colonel Gerstel(?), who is rendering services to Soviet authorities. All individuals and institutions are asked to lend assistance to Colonel Gerstel.´. Signed by Trotsky in black ink at the conclusion and bearing the countersignature of the manager of the Office of the People´s Commissar. Large blue pencil cancellation across the document, although not affecting the legibility of the text. A very small tear to the left edge, light folds and some light age wear. VG