The April 1953 issue of Masses & Mainstream, the cultural magazine of the Communist Party USA. This is M&M's first issue since the death of Stalin and contains various tributes to the Soviet leader. ("The death of Joseph Stalin was a grievous blow to the partisans of progress everywhere," writes Editor Samuel Sillen, who focuses on Stalin's contributions to culture.) Other tributes follow, including a frontispiece drawing of Stalin by Hugo Gellert. In other articles, historian Herbert Aptheker attacks conservatism and anti-Communism. There's also a short story by Meridel Le Sueur, poems by Aaron Kramer and Bert Meyers, and more. Scarce in commerce. PHYSICAL DETAILS: Small Octavo (7 3/4 x 5 1/4 inches; 197 x 135 mm), 64 pages, in stapled wrappers (soft cover). CONDITION: Rubbing and soiling to wrappers and a couple small stains internally. About Very Good.