Friedrich Schiller
German poet, 1759-1805
Friedrich Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life, he struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. They frequently discussed issues concerning aesthetics, and Schiller encouraged Goethe to finish works he left as sketches. This relationship and these discussions led to a period now referred to as Weimar Classicism. Schiller is considered by most Germans to be Germany’s most important classical playwright.
Source: Wikipedia
Dichter (1759-1805). Autograph letter signed. Dresden. 2 SS. auf Doppelblatt. 8vo. Montiert auf das Vorsatzblatt von: Ders. Don Karlos Infant von Spanien. Leipzig, Georg Joachim Göschen, 1802. 432 SS. Mit gest. Frontispiz und 5 gest. Tafeln. Marmorierter Lederband der Zeit. Marmorvorsätze. 8vo.
$ 58,592 / 55.000 €
(89955/BN59365)
A fine and early letter to his publisher Georg Joachim Göschen, discussing matters of censorship: "I have fulfilled the wish of your and my Censor, dear friend, and send you the note you asked for. This, I hope, will silence the intolerant part of the public. Have the goodness to assure the Herr Censor (whose name pray give me in your next letter) that I consider myself fortunate in knowing my Thalia is in such discriminating hands. He has quickly grasped the point from which my two poems must be viewed; and how few will do that! I have received what I asked you for, and I see in your ready response a fresh confirmation of your friendship and brotherly sympathy.
Farewell, dear friend, and continue to love me […]". - Schiller had anticipated that two poems intended for his journal "Thalia", namely "Freigeisterei der Leidenschaft" ("Passion's Free Thought") and "Resignation", might encounter difficulties with the censor. Saxon censorship was notoriously strict, and a performance of "Die Räuber" had been banned in Leipzig. In this case however, the censor in question, the Leipzig historian Friedrich August Wilhelm Wenck (1741-1810), "proved amenable and reasonable. It was contended that the tendency of the poems might be represented to be an apology for immorality if read by the ignorant and intolerant, and the Censor asked Goschen to procure an explanation from the author showing the baselessness of such a charge. Schiller at once complied with the request" (V. Goschen, pp. 122f.). - From the collection of the Copenhagen critic and theatre director Einar Christiansen (1861-1939) with his bookplate to the front pastedown..