Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von

informing him that he has sorted the business out to his correspondent's satisfaction, telling him to keep what he has been paid, stating that Bartholomä will obtain his receipt from the lessee instead of cash, and that this will be signed in the name of the Commission, asking him to tell the lessee that this is only a temporary arrangement and that the previous agreement still holds, and asking him to remember him favourably

...Sie behalten das schon gezahlte bey Sich, Bartholomä nimmt von dem Pachter Ihre Quittung statt baaren Geldes an und quittirt ihn im Namen der Commission. Wollen Ew. Wohlgeb. dem Pachter bemercken, daß dies nur interimistisch sey und daß es mit ihm bey der vorigen Verabredung bleibe: so wird vielleicht jeder unerfreuliche Schein vermieden...



1 page, 4to, integral autograph address panel, recto and verso of first leaf paginated '277' and '278' in another hand, seal tear and seal to integral, loose modern wrappers, annotations to upper wrapper, no place or date [June 1805], light spotting and creasing; together with a 2-page autograph draft reply by Eichstädt to Goethe's letter, no place or date [Jena, 1805] (2)



 

Goethes Werke. Weimarer Ausgabe, IV. Abteilung, Bd. 19

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Goethe's correspondent is the classical philologist Heinrich Karl Eichstädt (1771-1848), Professor from 1797 at the University of Jena (Schopenhauer was one of his doctoral students), Director between 1804 and 1817 of the University Library, as well as editor (1804-1832) of the Jena Allgemeine Literaturzeitung. In this letter Goethe plays the role of mediator in a dispute between Eichstädt and the former lessee of the Fürstengraben in Jena. Between 1817 and 1824 Goethe himself had overall responsibility for the University Library, which he restructured along Enlightenment lines.