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an old paper with a picture of a fly on it
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777 - Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von ‘Das Blumenchor’.
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Estimate €600 - €800
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Description
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von ‘Das Blumenchor’. 30 January 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, 30 January, was celebrated as a festive anniversary at the Weimar court. 31 x 11 cm. - Mounted in a wide, later passe-partout; older frame. Paper browned, stained and rubbed in places, with minor discolouration and signs of wear within the print area. Extremely rare; no copy known to be on the international market. Hagen 365. – Kippenberg, Goethe Collection, No. 150411505 (‘Goethe’s congratulatory message to the Duchess: The Chorus of Flowers. 30 January 1812’). - Cf. the classification as ‘1 Blatt 2°’, Weimar 1812, in the bibliographical 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 30 January 1812, the birthday of Grand Duchess Luise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. - Printed on brownish paper within a narrow border formed of stylised flowers, with a hand-coloured illustration of a blue flower beneath the text. Title in serif Antiqua typeface: “Das Blumenchor”, beneath which is the date “30 January 1812”. The four-line text reads: We encounter delight. As each 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 30 January 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 evidently part of this presentation. The attribution to Goethe is also explicitly supported by the Kippenberg catalogue, 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, 30 January, was celebrated as a festive anniversary at the Weimar court. 31 × 11 cm. – Mounted in a wide, later mat, within an older frame. The paper is browned, occasionally spotted and rubbed, with minor tears and signs of wear within the printed area. Very rare; no copy can be traced in the international market. Hagen 365. – Kippenberg, Goethe Collection, no. 150411505 (“Goethe’s congratulatory greeting to the Duchess: Das Blumenchor. On 30 January 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 30 January 1812, the birthday of Grand Duchess Luise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Printed on light brown paper within a narrow border of stylised floral ornaments; below the text is a hand-coloured depiction of a blue flower. The title, set in spaced Roman capitals, 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 addressee, was personally close to Goethe; biographical sources describe their relationship as particularly cordial. In his diary entry for 30 January 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 catalogue, which lists 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 is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot 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.
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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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