The collection contains historical portraits of prominent figures of Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. - the first prime minister of the Provisional Government, Prince G. E. Lvov, a major tsarist dignitary Count I. I. Vorontsov-Dashkov, leader of the October 17 Union. A.I. Guchkov, a member of the Central Committee of the cadet party, the future world-famous scientist academician V.I. Vernadsky, a figure in the commercial and industrial world of Russia, millionaire P.I. Ryabushisky, as well as one of the most prominent representatives of the Russian social democracy L. D., Trotsky. Biographical information is given, socio-political views are analyzed, the role and place of each person in public and political life is assessed.