Autographed letter from screenwriter Lily Brick

The text of the letter:
"Dear Comrade Stalin
I would like to express my deep gratitude to you for helping resolve the issue by facilitating the transfer of Mayakovsky's ashes.
I wish you excellent health for the benefit of our Great Motherland.
I'm sorry to bother you.
Devoted to you
L. Brick"

Lilya Brik is a legendary figure of the Russian avant—garde, a writer, screenwriter and hostess of the famous literary salon. The muse of Vladimir Mayakovsky, she played a key role in the development of Russian futurism. Brik was not only an inspiration, but also a co-author of many of the poet's works, and after his death devoted herself to preserving and popularizing his creative legacy.

The letter presented in the Stargift collection is dated May 28, 1952 and is addressed to Joseph Stalin. It belongs to the final stage of Brik's long-term efforts to honorably perpetuate the poet's memory. After his cremation in 1930, Mayakovsky's ashes were initially kept in the columbarium of the New Donskoy Cemetery, and his brain was transferred to the Brain Institute for research. Thanks to the perseverance of Lily Brik and the poet's sister Lyudmila, on May 22, 1952, the urn with ashes was solemnly transferred to the Novodevichy cemetery.