Abstract

This article addresses pressing issues in the textual criticism of early twentieth century Russian literature, focusing on a case study conducted at the V. V. Vinogradov Institute of the Russian Language, Russian Academy of Sciences. The study examines two newly acquired manuscripts, the authenticity of which was initially confirmed by a leading specialist in Mandelstam’s works and a forensic expert. However, through detailed philological and source-study methods, significant discrepancies between the language of these manuscripts and authentic works by Osip Mandelstam were identified, suggesting that these documents are not part of the standard corpus of the poet’s legacy. Consequently, the research concludes that the manuscripts are indeed counterfeits. This step-by-step analysis highlights the most relevant methods for verifying epistolary sources and underscores the necessity for qualified textual and source-critical expertise in handling autographs of Russian writers from the Silver Age.