777 - Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von "The Flower Chorus." January 30, 1812. Weimar, 1812. A single-sheet print, distributed as a commemorative edition, of Goethe’s four-line birthday greeting to Duchess Luise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1757–1830), whose birthday, January 30, was celebrated as a festive anniversary at the Weimar court. 31 x 11 cm. - Mounted in a wide, later passe-partout; older frame. Paper is browned, stained and rubbed in places, with minor discoloration and signs of wear within the print area. Extremely rare; no copy known to exist on the international market. Hagen 365. - Kippenberg, Goethe Collection, No. 150411505 (“Goethe’s Congratulatory Message to the Duchess: The Chorus of Flowers. January 30, 1812”). - Cf. the classification as “1 Blatt 2°,” Weimar 1812, in the bibliographic references to Goethe’s first editions. - Gottfried Eissler Library Auction, Internationale Sammler-Zeitung No. 13 (1925). No. 126. - An anonymously published single-sheet print of the celebratory poem composed for January 30, 1812, the birthday of Grand Duchess Luise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. - Printed on brownish paper within a narrow border formed of stylized flowers, with a hand-colored illustration of a blue flower below the text. Title in serif Antiqua typeface: “Das Blumenchor,” with the date “January 30, 1812” below it. The four-line text reads: We encounter delight. As everyone may feel it, And with childlike, cheerful gazes We greet the most beautiful day.- The choice of a “flower choir” ties in with a central imagery in Goethe’s poetry. The recipient, Luise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, was personally close to Goethe; their relationship is described in biographical accounts as particularly friendly. On January 30, 1812, Goethe noted in his diary the congratulatory message “To the Royal Duchess.” Contemporary accounts describe a courtly birthday celebration in which flowers played a central role; the poem was apparently part of this presentation. The attribution to Goethe is also explicitly supported by the Kippenberg record, which lists the sheet as “Goethe’s birthday greeting to the Duchess.” — Slightly browned and stained. — Overall, a decorative and rare sheet. Very rare. Distributed as an occasional print, this single-sheet printing contains Goethe’s four-line birthday greeting for Duchess Luise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1757–1830), whose birthday, January 30, was celebrated as a festive anniversary at the Weimar court. 31 × 11 cm. - Mounted in a wide, later mat, in an older frame. Paper is browned, occasionally spotted and rubbed, with minor tears and abrasion marks within the printed area. Very rare; no copy can be found on the international market. Hagen 365. - Kippenberg, Goethe Collection, no. 150411505 (“Goethe’s congratulatory greeting to the Duchess: Das Blumenchor. On January 30, 1812"). - Cf. the bibliographical record of Goethe’s first editions, listing it as “1 leaf, 2°,” Weimar 1812. - Gottfried Eissler Library, no. 13 (1925). - Internationale Sammler-Zeitung. An anonymously published single-sheet print of the occasional poem composed for January 30, 1812, the birthday of Grand Duchess Luise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Printed on light brown paper within a narrow border of stylized floral ornaments; below the text is a hand-colored depiction of a blue flower. The title, set in spaced Roman capital letters, reads *Das Blumenchor*, followed by the date “zum 30. Januar 1812.” The four-line text reads: We find delight In whatever way each may feel it, And with childlike, cheerful gazes We greet the fairest day. The choice of a “flower chorus” draws on a central motif in Goethe’s lyric poetry. Luise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, the recipient, was personally close to Goethe; biographical sources describe their relationship as particularly cordial. In his diary entry for January 30, 1812, Goethe recorded the greeting “Bey der reg. Herzoginn” (“with the reigning Duchess”). Contemporary accounts describe a court birthday celebration in which flowers played a central role; the poem apparently formed part of this event. The attribution to Goethe is further corroborated by the Kippenberg record, which catalogs the sheet as “Goethe’s congratulatory greeting to the Duchess.” Somewhat browned and spotted. Overall, a decorative and rare sheet. Very rare. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union. This work is subject to the standard tax regime. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints, and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.