Description:

Reik Theodor

Theodor Reik, Freud-Trained Psychoanalyst, ALS Regarding 3 of his Most Famous Works Including Listening with the Third Ear

 

1p autograph letter signed by acclaimed psychoanalyst Theodor Reik (1888-1969) as "Theodor Reik" near the bottom right. Written in New York City on January 13, 1960. Inscribed overall in Reik's hand on a single sheet of watermarked cream stationery with strike-through "Theodor Reik Clinic for Mental Health and Research" letterhead. In the letter's postscript, Reik writes: "Please excuse stationary [sic], have no other at hand in this moment." With heavy paper folds. Isolated water spot affecting a few words of the postscript. A tiny closed tear located in the bottom right corner near Reik's address. Else very good to near fine. 8.5" x 11".

 

Reik thanked an unknown correspondent named "Mrs Scult", evidently a psychiatric social worker. Considering Mrs. Schult's profession probably gave great satisfaction to Reik, because he was one of the first to lobby for non-medical professionals to be allowed to practice psychological therapy. In part, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

 

"Very cordial thanks for your kind words. It gives me great satisfaction to learn that you liked my 'Listening with the third Ear'. (I wrote two continuations to that book [']the Secret self' and 'The Haunting Melody', both published by Farrar, Straus & Co, New York.) I hope that your work gives you much satisfaction? It is, I am sure, difficult and often trying. A psychiatric social worker I once treated called it 'the lowest kind of existence…'"

 

Theodor Reik received his PhD in psychology at the University of Vienna, and afterwards, trained with Sigmund Freud. Reik was not a licensed physician, so his version of psychoanalytical treatment was initially controversial. Yet the success of his private practice soon popularized the concept of "lay analysts"; they abound today in the form of psychologists and social workers.

 

The three texts mentioned in Reik's letter include his Listening With The Third Ear: The Inner Experience of a Psychoanalyst (1948); The Secret Self: Psychoanalytical Experiences in Life and Literature (1952); and The Haunting Melody: Psychoanalytical Experiences in Life and Music (1953), all three published by New York-based Farrar, Straus & Co. Listening With The Third Ear posited that psychoanalysts can intuit the unconscious "wishes and fantasies" of their patients when diagnosing and treating them. The last two collections explored how individual personality influences the interpretation of literature and music.

 

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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