GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von (1749-1832). Autograph manuscript signed ('J.W. v. Goethe'), the first stanza of the poem 'Zum Neuen Jahr', Weimar, 24 June 1823.

Price realised GBP 11,250

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GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von (1749-1832). Autograph manuscript signed ('J.W. v. Goethe'), the first stanza of the poem 'Zum Neuen Jahr', Weimar, 24 June 1823.

Price realised GBP 11,250

Details More from

GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von (1749-1832). Autograph manuscript signed ('J.W. v. Goethe'), the first stanza of the poem 'Zum Neuen Jahr', Weimar, 24 June 1823.

8 lines on one page, 118 x 200mm, no doubt originally an album leaf (ink a little acidified, some discolouration from old paste on verso). Provenance: Sotheby's New York, Dec 7, 1999, lot 229; Stargardt, Mar 27, 2001, lot 97; Voerster caatlogue 42 (2015), no. 293; Schoyen MS 5531.

'Zwischen dem Alten,
Zwischen dem Neuen,
Hier uns zu freuen
Gönnt uns das Glück.
Und das Vergangene
Heist mit Vertrauen
Vorwärts zu schauen,
Schauen zurück'.

A poem for the New Year. The poem was originally written for the 'Mittwochskränzchen' – the Wednesday evening post-theatre gatherings which both Goethe and Schiller attended in Weimar of the winter of 1801-1802 – and was first published in 1804. Sophien-Ausgabe, vol. 1, p.107.

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