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an old handwritten letter with purple ink on a yellow piece of paper
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131 - Gustav von SCHMOLLER (1838–1917), German economist.
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Estimate €200 - €250
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Description
Gustav von SCHMOLLER (1838–1917), German economist. Autograph letter, Berlin, 22 December 1915, to a ‘Geheim Rat’ (Privy Councillor); 4 pages, in-8 format, on his letterhead (with file holes, slight tears at the fold); in German. Concerning the young economist Friedrich Lenz (1885–1968), son of the historian Max Lenz (1850–1932). He states that Lenz was never a ‘Privatdozent’ (lecturer); he was appointed as a lecturer on an ad hoc basis here and there, notably in Dresden, where he was not retained, as that university had for the past ten years preferred a Privatdozent recommended by the authorities in Leipzig… Schmoller knew little of Lenz’s teaching methods, and he had advised his father, whilst Lenz was still a student, to have him take elocution lessons with a good actor in order to correct his irritating manner of speaking (‘ ‘I once said to his father, when he was still a student, that I would have him take elocution lessons with a good actor so that he might break himself of that jarring manner of speaking’”). But this is only a minor flaw compared with the content of his lectures, which are undoubtedly excellent… Lenz inherited from his father a certain form of idealistic pathos, which suits the historian better than the political economist. This character trait also influenced the judgement passed on Lenz’s father, who did not receive, from certain members of the Academy and the Faculty, the very high esteem he deserved (“He has inherited a touch of idealistic pathos from his father. But it is better suited to the historian than to the political economist. Incidentally, this trait also plays a certain role in the judgement passed on his father. Some members of the Academy and the Faculty therefore did not hold Father Lenz in the high regard that, in my view, he deserved”)…
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About the sale Letters and Autograph Manuscripts – Part I
Auction location
Auction time 10/13/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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