Immediately following the death of Joseph Stalin on 5 March 1953 a power vacuum opened in the Soviet Union, as Stalin had done little to ensure a smooth transition of power during his lifetime to a potential successor. Into this vacuum stepped Georgy Malenkov, Lavrentiy Beria, and Nikita Khrushchev, who immediately implemented a series of reforms to the Soviet system, their most significant being those related to agriculture. By gaining incriminating information on other members of the Soviet collective leadership (particularly Beria, who was well-known for having committed numerous offenses which had been covered up by Stalin and who would be executed in December), Khrushchev steadily consolidated power until eventually being named First Secretary of the Communist Party and later Premier of the Soviet Union. Khrushchev's tenure was marked by significant crises, including the U-2 bomber incident, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the nuclear test ban treaty. The latter two events were key factors in a crisis of confidence in Khrushchev's leadership which eventually led to his removal from power in 1964 by Leonid Brezhnev. Such was his unpopularity at the end of his reign that upon his death in 1971 he was denied a state funeral and no official announcement was made until shortly before his burial.

PERHAPS THE LARGEST SINGLE ARCHIVE OF SIGNED KHRUSHCHEV MATERIAL IN PRIVATE HANDS.

Archive comprises:

1) Typed letter marked "Most Urgent", signed ("N. Khrushchev") to Joseph Stalin, [4] April 1944. 1p., 8vo (203 x 254 mm). The present letter relates to the wounded General Nikolai Vatutin, who was ambushed by Ukrainian Insurgent Army fighters on 28 February 1944. In part: "...upon arrival in Kyiv, Academician [Nikolay] Burdenko examined Comrade Vatutin and made his conclusion... Comrade Burdenko believes the only way out of the current situation is an urgent, high amputation of the right leg. In a conversation with me, Comrade Burdenko requested permission to perform an amputation... I request your permission to amputate Comrade Vatutin's leg, as there is no other option..." General Vatutin would ultimately die of sepsis on 15 April 1944.

2) Typed document to Nikita Khrushchev detailing General Vatutin's deteriorating condition, 4 April 1944. 1p., 8vo (203 x 254 mm). In part: "Throughout the night and day, the temperature remains between 38.9 and 39.00. Pulse is 124-140 beats per minute. Blood pressure is 125-75. The patient is in a state of severe intoxication. Somewhat drowsy, weak... At a consultation with Academician Burdenko, it was deemed necessary to perform a high amputation of the leg to save the patient's life. The operation is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on April 5, 1944.

3) A group of 16 typed documents, most signed by Khrushchev, many dealing with agricultural concerns including seed loans, harvest output, grain delivery, wheat production, and securing spare parts for damaged farm equipment.