J. Brahms. Autograph letter to Anna Franz (née Wittgenstein), thanking her for some tobacco [before 1892]

BRAHMS, JOHANNES

Autograph letter to Anna Franz (née Wittgenstein), signed ("J. Brahms"), [c.1885-1892]

thanking her for the tobacco she has brought back for him and the beautiful card, expressing his delight at the prospect of hearing about her Italian journey, but admitting that nothing could have pleased him more than the tobacco, expressing the hope that she will not condemn his unrefined tastes if, for the moment, he makes do with imagining her trip ("...Leider aber muß ich bekennen daß Sie mir nichts hätten mitbringen können, das mir so willkommen wäre--als der Tabak, an den Sie so freundlich gedacht haben. So haben Sie herzlichsten Dank und denken nichts gar zu schlimm von meinem prosaischen Gemüth!..."); he comments on a small picture or photograph (not present), which should interest her, as it appears to have been snapped ("gestohlen werden") opposite The Hotel Imperial, on the way from his house to hers

3 pages, 8vo (c.15 x 11cm), "Myrtle Mill Ivory Paper", no place or date [Vienna, before 16 October 1892], with a note of provenance [by Mrs Adela Wodehouse], ("Sent to me by Frl Betty Oser at Frl Geisler-Schubert's request Oct 16th 1892"), some light foxing,  

UNPUBLISHED: not in the Brahms-Briefverzeichnis or Avins. Brahms was an avid smoker of cigars and foreign cigarettes and prized imported tobacco in particular. 

RARE: This letter offers an insight into Brahms's intimate relationship with one of the richest and most intensely musical families in Vienna. From the 1860s until his death, he was a constant visitor to the Wittgensteins, whom he met through their cousin (and adoptive brother) Joseph Joachim. The first private performance of the Clarinet Quintet op.115, was given in their music salon on the Alleegasse on 5 January 1892. Anna (1840-1896), the aunt of Ludwig and Paul Wittgenstein, was the eldest and most musically gifted of eight sisters and three brothers, and had studied the piano with Brahms in 1866. For a charming photograph of Brahms with Anna and Clärchen Franz and Marie Soldat, see Sotheby's sale 22 May 2003, lot 28 (Paul Wittgenstein's annotated copy); also illustrated in Nedo's Album. 

"Nevertheless", as Styra Avins points out, "there are only a few letters from Brahms to the family, who were so much part of his Viennese circle, and in such close touch, that letters were unnecessary". 

LITERATURE:

S. Avins, Johannes Brahms. Life and Letters (1997), pp.589-590, and ibid, 'Brahms in the Wittgenstein Homes' in K. Hamilton & N. Loges, Brahms in the Home and the Concert Hall (2014), pp.221-258; M. Nedo, Ludwig Wittgenstein. Ein biographisches Album (2012), pp.49-55

PROVENANCE:

"Fräulein Betty Oser": the sister-in-law of Anna's sister Josephine Oser (1844-1933); "Tante Betty" was a former pupil and companion of Clara Schumann. From the album of Adela Wodehouse: Caroline Geisler-Schubert (1856-1951), who asked Betty Oser to send the letter to her in 1892, was in London from 1885.

Please note: Condition 11 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.

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