Dear comrade! I have a request of you concerning one of my books on American statistics (I am enclosing the exact title). I need this book just now, and it turns out I do not have it. I remember that in the summer or autumn of 1908 one of our comrades, Aleksinsky, borrowed it from me (through Nikitich). Could it have remained with him? You would greatly oblige me if you would inquire into this and help me obtain the book. I myself cannot write to Aleksinsky (and besides, I do not know whether he is in Geneva or on Capri). It is possible that since then it has been passed on to someone else.

It is possible that you could conveniently make inquiries through the library, which everyone frequents — perhaps you could post such a notice in the library and send a copy of it to Aleksinsky or his wife.

I press your hand warmly. Greetings to Comrade Olga. Yours, Lenin

Lenin is searching for his book, which remained with one of the Geneva comrades:

Abstract of the twelfth Census of the United States. 1900.

Washington. 1902* (a bound volume of American statistics).

Requests very much that it be delivered to Comrade Karpinsky, 1. Rue Dizerens. 1. Bibliotheque russe.

* — Extracts from the Twelfth Census of the United States. 1900. Washington. 1902. —Ed.

1911

Written no earlier than 1910

Sent from Paris to Geneva

First published in 1930 in Lenin Collection XIII

Printed from the manuscript