Lot #256

Theodor Herzl

Description

Two years before his Zionist ‘awakening’ Herzl puts a positive spin on his sickness-plagued vacation: “If one is to be unwell, then one should be unwell here!”

ALS in German, signed “Th. Herzl,” two pages, lightly-lined on two adjoining sheets, 5.25 x 8.25, Hotel and Pension Frohnalp letterhead, June 29, 1893. Letter to an unidentified friend with news of a family vacation that, unfortunately, has not initially lived up to his expectations. In part (translated): “But as with so many things, I imagined these vacation days would be different. At least, the beginning is bad. As soon as we got here, my wife had to lie down because of a terribly sore throat. In the night a doctor—more a Bader [a medieval term for a lesser doctor who was nothing more than a glorified bath chamber owner]—had to be brought up from Brunnen…She is feeling better today, her temperature is still between 38 –39 degrees. Throat is very coated. The children have been separated…I am sitting and painting…. But the air is, one would say, soothing…If one is to be unwell, then one should be unwell here!” Uniform toning, creasing along hinge, and a few stray ink marks, otherwise fine condition. An interesting peek into a slice of the future Zionist founder’s private life, with a most optimistic ending. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.

Auction Info

• Auction Title:
• Dates: #377 - Ended October 12, 2011

This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
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