Kästner, Erich

discussing many works of Kästner's, including Emil und die Detektive, Das doppelte Lottchen, Drei Männer im Schnee, Das fliegende Klassenzimmer, Fabian, Der 35. Mai, Die verschwundene Miniatur; also with: the retained typescript copies of many letters of Maschler; c.9 typed letters signed by Liselotte Rosenow; c.12 typed letters, autograph letters and corrected typescripts by Luiselotte Enderle; one typed letter signed by Friedel Siebert and one typed document signed by Elfriede Mechnig ("Dreißig Jahre Erich Kästner's Privatsekretärin"), together with c.50 black-and-white photographs and photographic portraits of Kästner, and c.12 others; and over 100 pages of correspondence and documents mostly relating to Kästner from the files of Kurt Maschler

...Mich interessiert die Sache nicht nur des Emil-Films wegen, sondern auch wegen des 1942 gedrehten Films "Der kleine Grenzverkehr". Jedenfalls gehe ich der Sache weiter nach und hoffe, Ihnen bald exaktere Auskünfte geben zu können... 



c.75 pages of Kästner's letters, various sizes, 5 letters on postcards, some newspaper cuttings, Kästner's letters dated Munich, 1949

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."

A fascinating archive of correspondence between Kästner and the publisher of many of his works, Kurt Maschler, dating from the year (1949) of one of Kästner's best-loved children's books, Das doppelte Lottchen.

Kurt Maschler (1898-1986) was Kästner's publisher in a very special sense, since he had founded the publishing firm of Atrium Verlag in Switzerland in 1935 with the specific aim of publishing Kästner's works, after having failed to persuade the writer to leave Germany following the banning of his books by the Nazis. As Maschler put it: 'Since I could not induce Kästner to emigrate, I emigrated his books'. Maschler himself fled the Nazis in 1939, and settled in London, from where he continued to run Atrium Verlag.