“Museum of antiquities” (one piece of realia in the draft autograph of "Dead souls")

As the author of the article found out, it is the famous “Russian Museum” of P.P. Svinjin (1787-1839) which is meant under “Museum of antiquities” in the early edition of Dead Souls. “Russian Museum” was an exposition of works of art, rarities and minerals opened for the public in Saint-Petersburg since 1826. Svinjin's correspondence, contemporaries' evidence, archive materials and newspaper articles of 1820-s - 30-s lead to a conclusion that circumstances of selling “Museum” at auction were documented in Gogol's text with great accuracy, and all the details (condition of exhibits, presence of Peter the Great's things, visitors' doubts in their authenticity) have documentary proof.