An exceedingly rare personally signed in black ink Chinese Communist Party leader and Head of State Chairman Mao Zedong diplomatic presentation photo as given by the Chinese government to the USSR Soviet Russian high ranking official Mikhail Suslov on the occasion of the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the formation of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
The presentation photo was given to Mikhail Suslov in October 1959 and depicts Chairman Mao Zedong's last meeting with Soviet Russia Leader Nikita Khrushchev during his visit to China in 1958. This 1958 photo is otherwise a well-known image showing Nikita Khrushchev exhibiting an informal behaviour of using a fan to cool himself off from the negotiations he had with Mao Zedong during the 1958 official Russian delegation visit to China. Nevertheless, in 1959 Soviet - Chinese relations continued deteriorating due to the Chinese - India conflict which Soviet Russia highly disregarded.
The hidden diplomatic message behind this particular signed photo was to specifically target Mikhail Suslov as a receiver of the gift in a form of an extended Chinese diplomatic wink or nod about using a fan to cool off Soviet annoyance. However, Chinese - Soviet relations became frozen following this very last October 1959 meeting between leaders of the two communist powers.
Mikhail Suslov has always played an important role in the The Soviet Russian Politburo, but he was particularly targeted by the Chinese Government officials as he was leading the main party opposition against Nikita Khrushchev during the late 1950s and most likely the intention of the Chinese was to possibly win a potential supporter within the Soviet Communist Party.
The other high-ranking Soviet official present in the 1959 delegation to China was Andrey Gromyko, who was a Soviet Russia Foreign Minister for many decades after.
All Soviet Russian delegation members received more than one diplomatic gift and other memory tokens like signed Chairman Mao objects, photos, etc., being a common practice of the time.
The photo measures exactly 148x105mm and was glued to a red silk covered cardboard base. It was part of a single photo folder or album, but Suslov's descendants did not wish the origin of the photo to become publicly known and his name to be revealed, since it was an usual practice photo albums prepared by the Chinese Communist Party to be personally dedicated and embossed in gold or otherwise in the name of the receiving person. The photo was therefore cut out and removed from the original album (though an image within the album was taken and shared with previous owner - further attached to this listing). The original album is no longer available and is not part of this listing. The present signed photo is still glued to the red silk cardboard base and neatly cut out with a narrow border around all edges. Its back is the cardboard base as unglued from the album cover (some glue specks still present at its reverse).
Provenance: Acquired by previous owner from descendants of above Soviet Russia official who has originally received it in 1959.
The present Chairman Mao Zedong's signature is original and authentic and personally signed in bold black ink and is not an auto-pen signature like with some other diplomatic presents. It will be accompanied by our COA and Appraisal Report as issued by a graphology and forensic expert. The signature has been thoroughly inspected both in terms of relevance of physical characteristics (254nm SWUV / 365nm LWUV, Infrared reflectography (IRR), FTIR), as well as comparison with known authentic signatures in respect to stroke rhythm, pressure, ink loading behaviour, etc., and was found to be undoubtedly authentic.
All images accompanying the present description and Ebay listing have been watermarked for security reasons.
As an example of one of the performed various tests, the photograph was examined under controlled conditions using two ultraviolet light sources: Long-wave UV (LWUV) at approximately 365nm and Short-wave UV (SWUV) at approximately 254nm.
Observations were made visually and photographically, with particular attention to:
- Fluorescence behaviour of the photographic paper
- Fluorescence or absorption behaviour of the ink
- Relative contrast between ink and substrate
- Integration of ink with the photographic emulsion
Observations:
Photographic Paper
Under 365nm (LWUV), the photographic paper exhibits a muted, uneven bluish fluorescence, consistent with aged gelatin-based photographic papers.
Under 254nm (SWUV), the image appears darker with increased contrast, and the paper shows limited fluorescence, indicating strong UV absorption.
No intense blue-white fluorescence characteristic of modern optical brightening agents (OBAs) was observed.
Inked Signature:
Under both 365nm and 254nm UV illumination, the ink of the signature remains dark and non-fluorescent. The ink consistently absorbs ultraviolet radiation rather than emitting fluorescence. No haloing, resinous sheen, or differential glow was observed around the ink strokes. The ink appears integrated into the photographic emulsion, rather than sitting superficially on the surface.
Relative Ink–Paper Interaction:
The ink does not fluoresce more strongly than the surrounding paper under either UV wavelength. The relationship between ink absorption and paper fluorescence remains stable and coherent across both UV sources.
The observed ultraviolet behaviour is consistent with:
- Carbon-based or iron-gall-type black inks commonly used during the mid-20th century.
- Pre-optical-brightener photographic paper, typical of photographic materials produced prior to the widespread adoption of OBAs in later decades.
- A natural ageing relationship between ink and photographic substrate.
- No ultraviolet characteristics typically associated with modern inks, synthetic dye-based writing instruments, or recent additions were detected.
Conclusion:
Based on ultraviolet examination under both long-wave (365nm) and short-wave (254nm) UV light, no evidence was observed that would suggest the signature was applied using modern materials or at a significantly later date than the photograph itself.
The ultraviolet response of both the photographic paper and the inked signature is consistent with materials and techniques in use during the mid-1950s, and the signature shows no detectable UV anomalies indicative of a modern addition.
Absolutely scarce and unique historical memorabilia collector piece of the highest degree.
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