760 - STEFAN ZWEIG (1881-1942)

STEFAN ZWEIG (1881-1942) Autograph letter signed to Karl Klammer. No place no date. Berlin, 10.4.1902. Restored along the horizontal fold and with traces of tape. At the end a note in pencil, presumably by Karl Klammer ‘Sent copy to Dr. Grimm’. Preserved envelope with stamp and postmark. On the back of the envelope Klammer has noted five poem titles in pencil. In-8°. 2 pages. 18 x 11.7 cm. Envelope 10.8 x 13 cm In German. Letter to the officer, poet and translator Karl Klammer (1879-1959), then at the military academy in Wiener-Neustadt. Zweig spent the summer semester of 1902 at the University of Berlin and wrote there his first contribution for the feuilleton of the Viennese ‘Neue Freie Presse’, on whose staff he would remain until 1938. […] Thank you very much for your translations, which show me that Dehmel did not say too much despite his excessive praise. I will probably put you next to Schaukal most in the foreground and am pleased if your success will support mine. The following, however, should prove to you that I am sincere in my thanks. You wrote to me about the ‘author’ and Kiki also once spoke to me about your verses, which he would like to publish. Personally, I strongly advise you against it, because I would be embarrassed to know that your book - and I don’t doubt that it will be a good one - will come into the hands of people who do nothing for it except get paid the printing costs and perhaps even more. You probably won’t know much about the publishing conditions of ‘Neue Lyrik’, I know more than enough, although I’ve never had anything to do with it personally. Before I finish, I’ll let you know what I have retained - it will probably be most of it - and possibly send you suggestions for improvement. […] In 1899, Dehmel helped the young Klammer, who pursued a military career until 1919, to get published in the Berlin ‘Pan’ and the ‘Wiener Rundschau’. His Villon translation of 1907, from which Brecht had taken long passages for his ‘Threepenny Opera’ without permission, became particularly famous; Klammer received 2 per mille of the earnings because of this. Because of the huge success of the opera, he was able to buy a wine tavern in Grinzing with the proceeds. Upon the buyer’s request, we are pleased to provide a general condition report for the Lot described above. However, as we are not professional conservators or restorers, we strongly advise prospective buyers to conduct their own inspection or consult a specialist or restorer of their choice for a comprehensive professional assessment. Any condition descriptions provided in the catalogue or through any correspondence are for guidance only and should not be considered a substitute for a firsthand evaluation. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD ‘AS IS’ IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE PUBLISHED IN THE CATALOGUE.