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a picture of a picture of a mountain with a lot of writing on ita painting of a mountain scene with pine trees and mountains in the backgrounda handwritten letter from person to persona letter from the president of the united states to his wifea letter written by a man in a suit and tie to a womana letter written in black ink on a piece of papera letter written in black ink on a piece of papera letter written in cursive handwriting with purple flowers on ita close up of a piece of paper with a flower on itseveral old letters are stacked on top of each other on a white surfacean old envelope with a handwritten message on it sitting on a white surfaceseveral old letters are stacked on top of each other on a white surfacea pile of old handwritten letters sitting on top of each othera handwritten letter written in black ink on a piece of paper
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Estimate €22,000 - €28,000
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Description
Haeckel, Ernst A collection of 76 handwritten letters, notes and postcards to his daughter Elisabeth, son-in-law Hans Meyer, granddaughter Else and others, together with 3 autographs in his own hand, 3 watercolours by Haeckel, and 26 letters addressed to him. 1871–1918. Jena, Leipzig and elsewhere, 1868–1915. 4°–16°, approx. 170 pp. Partly in original envelopes (many of which are franked and postmarked); groups I.1–2 and II.1–2 are loose in three newer, labelled envelopes; group I.3 is in a postcard labelled by Elisabeth Meyer (item II.1). A unique collection of autographs and watercolours by the eminent German zoologist, philosopher, draughtsman and university lecturer in Jena, Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919), as well as letters addressed to him. - The collection provides eloquent testimony to Ernst Haeckel’s private life and, furthermore, offers a supplementary insight – hitherto largely unknown to researchers – into his inner world, his private, largely self-centred thoughts and actions. - Contains: I. 79 autographs by Ernst Haeckel. - I.1. 47 letters and 3 notes or postcards to his daughter Elisabeth Haeckel (1871–1946) and/or his son-in-law Hans Meyer (1858–1929), a prominent African explorer and publisher (Bibliographisches Institut). - I.2. 22 letters and 4 notes or postcards to his favourite granddaughter ‘Actissa’, i.e. Else Meyer (1894–1976), with a list of transcriptions available on request. - I.3. 3 further autographs: A letter to his parents Carl (1781–1871) and Charlotte (1799–1889) dated 1871, a bequest dated 28 June 1918, and a wedding toast for Elisabeth and Hans dated September 1891. - II. 26 letters to Ernst Haeckel. - II.1 25 letters from Elisabeth Haeckel and/or Hans Meyer, as well as others addressed to Ernst and/or Agnes Haeckel (née Huschke, 1842–1915). - II.2 Letter from Agnes Haeckel to Ernst Haeckel. - Some of the letters have been reinforced with adhesive tape along the horizontal centre fold. - III. 3 watercolours by Ernst Haeckel. - III.1. Pelmo (Monte Pelmo, South Tyrol). 1883. Pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour on heavy paper. 34.7 x 23.7 cm. Mounted over the entire surface onto backing board with a double gold frame; inscribed ‘Aquarellskizze’ on the left and ‘Ernst Haeckel, Jena’ on the right. Signed, inscribed and dated in the centre of the backing board and in the centre-right of the image (slightly warped and showing creases; the board is damaged at the lower edge). - III. 2. Lydica. Sardis (Tutücken tents against a mountainous backdrop near Sardis, Anatolia). 1887. Pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour on heavy paper. 34.4 x 23.3 cm. Mounted in places on thin backing board. Signed, inscribed and dated lower left (slight brown staining in places). - III.3. Lobdeburg near Jena. 1868. Watercolours on heavy paper. 48.5 x 32 cm. (Formerly) mounted in places on thick backing board. Signed, inscribed and dated in ink in the centre left (minimal foxing in places; backing board included). A unique collection of autographs and watercolours by the eminent German zoologist, philosopher, draughtsman and university professor in Jena, Ernst Haeckel (1834–1919), as well as letters addressed to him. - The collection provides eloquent testimony to Ernst Haeckel’s private life and, moreover, offers a supplementary insight into his inner world, his private, largely self-referential thoughts and actions, which have been largely unknown to researchers until now. It contains 76 handwritten letters, notes and postcards to his daughter Elisabeth, his son-in-law Hans Meyer (publisher and prolific scholar of African studies), his granddaughter Else, etc., as well as 3 additional handwritten autographs, 3 watercolours by Haeckel, and 26 letters addressed to him. - For further details, see the German description above.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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