1828–1910 · Writers

Leo Tolstoy signature

Russian novelist and thinker, 1828–1910

Inspired by Leo Tolstoy’s signature

A rendering in a modern handwriting font, made for this page. It is not the real signature; see where to view the original below. Where to see the original ↓Style: Caveat, slant 6°

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Herr Von Muellerhoff · 10°

Who Leo Tolstoy was

Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy was born on his family estate, Yasnaya Polyana, in 1828 and died at the railway station of Astapovo in November 1910. War and Peace and Anna Karenina made him famous across Europe; in later life he was as well known for his writings on religion, non-violence and the simple life.

In English he is Leo; in Russian his first name is Lev, and that is how he signed.

The story of the signature

Tolstoy usually signed with his initial and surname, “Л. Толстой” (L. Tolstoy), or with his first name in full, “Лев Толстой”. Before the Russian spelling reform of 1918 his first name was written with a final hard sign, “Левъ”, so older documents look slightly different from the modern form shown here.

His working hand was fast and hard to read, with many corrections, insertions and crossings-out. His wife, Sofia Andreyevna Tolstaya, copied out large parts of the drafts of War and Peace so that they could be revised and sent to the printer; the often-repeated claim that she copied the whole novel seven times is family tradition rather than a measured fact.

Late in life he wrote and signed enormous numbers of letters, to followers, critics and strangers. His manuscripts and letters are now mainly in the State Tolstoy Museum in Moscow, and a complete edition of his works and letters fills ninety volumes.

What makes it distinctive

Initial plus surname

“Л. Толстой” is the common form, short enough to write dozens of times a day.

Speed

Letters lean forward and run together, the signature of someone writing quickly rather than carefully.

Cyrillic cursive

The Т, л and й follow Russian handwriting conventions that differ from the printed letters.

Old spelling

Documents before 1918 show the pre-reform spelling, with a hard sign at the end of Левъ.

How to give your signature a similar feel

For a Tolstoy feel in Latin letters, open the Type tab of the signature generator and try Herr Von Muellerhoff with a Slant of 10° or more.
Sign with your initial and surname. It is the form Tolstoy used most, and it stays readable at small sizes.
Draw it rather than typing it if you want his energy: write fast in the Draw tab so the pad gives you thinner, quicker strokes.
If you write in Cyrillic, draw your signature by hand on the pad, or sign on paper and use the Upload tab to turn a photo into a transparent PNG.

Where to see the original

These links lead to archives, libraries, museums and Wikimedia Commons.

Questions about Leo Tolstoy’s signature

How did Tolstoy sign his name?

Usually “Л. Толстой” or “Лев Толстой” in Russian. Before 1918 the first name was spelled “Левъ”.

Did Sofia Tolstaya really copy War and Peace seven times?

She did copy out large parts of the drafts. The exact figure of seven complete copies is a family story that historians treat with caution.

Where are Tolstoy’s manuscripts?

Most are at the State Tolstoy Museum in Moscow. His estate at Yasnaya Polyana is also a museum.