Please return with "despotic" corrections

Humboldt, Alexander von, German naturalist and explorer (1769-1859). Autograph letter signed ("Humboldt").

Paris, "Samedi" [1824-25].

Small 8vo. 2¾ pp. on bifolium. In French.

 3,500.00

Charming letter to a close friend, asking for "minuscule corrections" of a text. In a self-described "grand prelude" Humboldt expresses his deep attachment to the unnamed recipient: "in the past weeks you were missed by my spirit and my heart more than ever". The letter can be dated to 1824-25 due to comments about the passing of King Louis XVIII on 16 September 1824 and the beginning of the rule of Charles X: "We had talked about the strength of character that Louis XVIII has so nobly exhibited during his long and painful agony, about that worthy attitude that the people have shown, and about those wise and just measures that the new king has taken from the first days of his rule". Humboldt comments, perhaps jokingly, that "the entire world is content except for my illustrious friend from Jerusalem, who is agitated and believes that the graces are rather distant". The "illustrious friend from Jerusalem" could not be identified. The text that he originally sent with the letter was apparently "riddled with proper names and numbers". Humboldt urges the recipient to perform his corrections "with the despotism that makes life so easy for a work-shy subject". In closing, Humboldt asks the recipient to indicate a time for their next possible meeting and sends warm greetings to his family.

Two French publications by Humboldt are likely candidates for his corrections. In the summer of 1825, the fifth instalment of his important "Relation historique" appeared: this part of the monumental report of Humboldt's Spanish American expedition comprises several scientific essays and measurements that would fit the facetious description of a "sheet riddled with proper names and numbers". His 1825 geological essay "Esquisse d'un tableau géognostique de l'Amérique méridionale, au nord de la rivière des Amazones et à l'est du méridien de la Sierre Nevada de Mérida" falls in the same category.

Humboldt's most intimate friend in Paris was the astronomer François Arago. From a diary entry of the German geographer Carl Ritter we know that Humboldt was keenly interested in the events surrounding the death of Louis XVIII. The day after the King's passing, Humboldt belatedly joined a soirée of Arago's, bringing the latest news from the palace.

With small loss to paper through breaking of the seal, trace of old restauration and recipient's note in brown ink "M. de humboldt".

References

Cf. U. Leitner, Humboldt, Cotta, Ritter. Eine Miszelle über die Arbeit an einer Edition. In: International Review for Humboldt Studies 16, 2008.

Stock Code: BN#54304 Tag: