Description:

Hermann Rorschach
Herisau, Switzerland, February 8, 1922
Rare H. Rorschach Letter Re: Rorschach Test, Exchanging Case Data in Development
TLS

One page TLS, 8.6" x 10.9"; Herisau, Switzerland; February 8, 1922. Hermann Rorschach writes to Emil Oberholzer less than two months before his untimely death exchanging data on case studies in the use of form interpretation in psychoanalysis – what we know today as the Rorschach Test. Rorschach hoped to include the findings in a lecture he was working on, tentatively titled, "On the Evaluation of Form Interpretations for Psychoanalysis." This important address was delivered on February 18, 1922 at the Swiss Psychoanalytic Society in Zürich and is widely regarded as his final major contribution before his untimely death two months later on April 2, 1822. With flattened folds and light creasing. Minute tears along the edges, well away from any text. We find only one other example of any form of Rorschach autograph ever to be offered at auction and that was nearly 20 years ago!

English translation in full:

"Dear Emil,

I was just about to throw myself into my lecture when your new delivery arrived. Enclosed are Case Schetty and the schemata of our two colleagues E.Z. and E.B. Your suppositions seem to be more than just a joke.

From Case Schetty I have put together the actual interpretation somewhat roughly, and will have to go through it once more. Read first the notes titled ‘Course of the Experiment.' Since each interpretation represents a particular ‘type of experience,' the course of the experiment should, of course, say something about the dynamics of the variability between intro-, extra-, and form-. If the matter proves itself, I would also have Bauer take a look at it. Write to me soon whether you can make sense of it, and how the picture aligns with the observations made during the initial examination and with those made in life.

As a possible lecture title: ‘On the Evaluation of the Form Interpretation Experiment for Psychoanalysis.'

Warm greetings,
Hermann."

In late 1921 and early 1922, Rorschach was focused on refining and defending the "Form Interpretation Test" (Formdeuteversuch), which would later become known as the Rorschach Inkblot Test. Emil Oberholzer was one of his closest collaborators. A psychiatrist at the asylum in Herisau and Zurich, he conducted comparative studies using the inkblot method on different groups of patients to test Rorschach's idea that "form interpretation" could reveal the type of experience: introversive, extratensive, or ambivalent (terms used in the letter: "Intro, Extra, u. Form"). Oberholzer continued to promote Rorschach's work after his death. He trained psychiatrists both in Europe and later in the United States in the use of the Rorschach Inkblot Test in psychoanalysis.

In this letter, Rorschach also mentions that he is working on a lecture he was tentatively titling, "Zur Auswertung des Formdeuteversuchs für die Psychoanalyse" ("On the Evaluation of the Form Interpretation Test for Psychoanalysis"). A lecture with this very title was presented to the Swiss Psycho Analytical Society on February 18, 1922. It is noted to be the last important paper he completed and a culmination of his life's work.

An exceptionally scarce autograph, with only one other online auction record for an ALS selling in 2007. This letter comes directly from the papers of Emil Oberholzer.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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