Description:

Sigmund & Anna Freud
[Vienna, Austria], ca. 1928-1933
Sigmund Freud & Daughter Anna Freud, 2 ALS's Ex-Edward L. Bernays
ALSs
A lovely pair of autograph letters in German signed, one by celebrated Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), as "Sigm"; and one by his youngest daughter, psychoanalyst Anna Freud (1895-1982), as "Anna Freud." Both of the items came from the Estate of Edward L. Bernays (1891-1995), Sigmund Freud's nephew, via Christie's, Sale 19988, Lot 161, October 15, 2021. With outstanding provenance provide by Edward L. Bernays to Dr. John K. Lattimer (1914-2007), the world-renowned collector of historical autographs and artifacts.

The lot includes:

1. A 2pp autograph letter in German signed by Sigmund Freud as "Sigm" on the reverse of a stock card with "Prof. Dr. Freud / Wien, IX., Berggasse 19" letterhead. May 12, 1928. [Vienna, Austria.] Expected light surface wear including even toning and isolated edge scuffs, else near fine. 5.25" x 3.5."

Sigmund Freud wrote this letter to his oldest sister, Anna Freud (1858-1955), in response to birthday wishes she had sent him on May 6, 1928 for his 72nd birthday.

Translated by Edward L. Bernays (see provenance section below) as:

"Dear Sister Anna, I thank you for your birthday letter and I am delighted that your repeated visits have again brought us closer together. Assuredly mother… is hale and hearty and can be an example to us oldsters. Do you believe that we will be able to reach her age? As far as I can figure it out, you yourself are stepping out of the stage this year from your youthful girlhood years… The most beautiful greetings before we see you, for all. Your brother, Sigm."

Bernays notes in his translation, contained in the letter of provenance to Dr. John K. Lattimer, that Uncle Sigmund's letter to his mother, Anna Freud, was delightfully facetious, as Anna was about 70 years at the time, and quite far past her "youthful girlhood years." Sigmund and Anna's mother, Amalia Freud (1835-1930), died two years later at age 95. The question Freud posed about familial longevity is complicated; while he died at age 83, and Anna died at age 96, all four of their sisters died during the Holocaust at an advanced age.

2. A 2pp autograph letter in German signed by daughter Anna Freud as "Anna Freud" on the reverse of a stock card with "Anna Freud / Wien, IX., Berggasse 19" letterhead partly crossed out. November 20, 1933. [Vienna, Austria.] Expected light surface wear including light toning and isolated mounting traces verso affecting just one word, else near fine. 5.25" x 3.5."

Anna Freud wrote this letter to one of her father's associates, probably psychiatrist Roy R. Grinker (1900-1993), who underwent psychoanalysis with Sigmund Freud in 1933 and later trained with him. She thanks "Dr. Grinker" for his inquiries into her father's health, and reports that Freud is recuperating and hoping to return to work in about a month.

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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  • Provenance: The Sigmund Freud ALS is accompanied by a 2pp typed letter signed by Edward L. Bernays as "Edward L. Bernays" near the top of the second page. April 6, 1961. [New York, New York.] On cream stationery with "Edward L. Bernays / 26 East 64th Street / New York 21, N.Y. / Telephone Templeton 8-5000" letterhead. Flattened paper folds and a few annotations in blue and black ink, else near fine. 7.25" x 10.5."

    Bernays was a patient of Dr. John K. Lattimer, the urologist-in-chief and chairman of the Urology Department at Presbyterian Hospital (today the New York Presbyterian Hospital) from 1955-1980. Bernays sent this letter of explanation along with the Sigmund Freud ALS described above, providing the translation of the autograph letter signed as well as the context.

    Bernays wrote in part: "I am also sending you a letter from my uncle to my mother, dated May 12, 1928… I thought that because of the reference to age and health it might be particularly applicable to your own interest…"

    Dr. John K. Lattimer collected historical documents, artifacts, and other collectibles related to presidential assassinations (Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy), the Third Reich (he had served as general medical officer to prisoners at Nuremburg), and militaria.

    The lot also includes a protective sleeve from the Christie's sale, and the Christie's catalog description.
  • Dimensions: 5.25" x 3.5"
  • Medium: ALSs

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