The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · Soviet leadership
Mikhail Kalinin (1875–1946): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 19 November 1875 (7 November Old Style), Verkhnyaya Troitsa |
|---|---|
| Died | 3 June 1946, Moscow |
| Key offices | Chairman of the Central Executive Committee (from March 1919); Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1938–1946) |
| Documents bearing his name | Decrees of the Presidium, including award decrees; award documents; printed facsimiles |
| In the collection | No pieces currently available |
Mikhail Kalinin was the formal head of the Soviet state for more than a quarter of a century. As Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, he signed the decrees that conferred Soviet orders and medals, so his name appears on a great many award documents of the war years.
Who Was Mikhail Kalinin?
Kalinin was born in Verkhnyaya Troitsa in 1875. In March 1919 he became Chairman of the Central Executive Committee, and from 1938 until March 1946 he was Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, the Soviet head of state. He died in Moscow on 3 June 1946.
What Documents Bear Kalinin’s Signature?
Award decrees of the Presidium were issued in his name, and his signature appears, often printed, on award documents and certificates. Ink signatures exist on correspondence and some documents. See Soviet order books.
Soviet documents bring their own checks. Signatures are usually in Cyrillic, and official papers combine typed text, printed forms, ink signatures and round seals. A collector should read the Russian text, compare the office named with the date, and remember that Soviet state papers were often reproduced, so many documents carry a printed or stamped signature rather than ink.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Read the Cyrillic text and check the office against the date.
- Distinguish ink signatures from printed or stamped ones.
- Soviet-era reproductions and later commemorative items are common.
- Ask for documented provenance on any important piece.
Historical Context
Kalinin held a largely ceremonial office while real power lay with Stalin and the party. His own wife was arrested during the repression of the late 1930s.
Collector’s Note
When I examine a Soviet award document, Kalinin’s name is often the first check: it must fit the date of the decree. After March 1946 another chairman signs.
Related Entries and Pieces
Browse the full Collector’s Encyclopaedia →
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Kalinin’s name on Soviet award documents?
As Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet he signed award decrees.
When was Kalinin head of state?
Formally from 1919; as Chairman of the Presidium from 1938 to March 1946.
Are Kalinin signatures on award documents handwritten?
Usually they are printed or stamped.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the Soviet period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of political repression and war.
References & Further Reading
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin.