To A. Dmitriyev, 21 September 1889. Moscow.

A short, formal letter of permission, dated 21 September 1889 from Moscow and addressed to a Mr. A. Dmitriev in Petersburg, about whom little else is known – evidently someone organizing private (amateur/club) theatrical performances there. Chekhov grants him and anyone else standing permission to stage his one-act vaudeville "A Tragedian in Spite of Himself" ("Трагик поневоле") on Petersburg’s private stages. Because the play was new and had not yet been performed anywhere, Chekhov suggests – but explicitly does not insist on – a token gesture: fifteen rubles donated after the first performance to the Society for the Aid of Theatrical Workers (a real charitable body supporting actors and stage professionals). He closes with a note about the role of Tolkachov, the play’s principal (and most demanding) part: if the actor cast as Tolkachov, a Mr. Babikov, is reluctant to take it on, Chekhov offers to cut the role’s long monologue, which he himself judges tiring to perform.

Content is entirely businesslike; there is nothing sensitive to flag. The letter is of interest mainly for stage history – an author personally managing amateur performance rights and offering to revise his own text for a specific actor’s benefit, at a moment ("Тragedian in Spite of Himself" not yet performed anywhere) that helps date the play’s early performance history.