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Lot Number
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70
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Author
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KAFKA, FRANZ
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Title
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Autograph letter signed ("Kafka"),
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Year Published
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1920
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Place Printed
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[Prague]
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Description
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Autograph letter signed ("Kafka"), 1 page (9 x 5 3/4 in.; 230 x 145 mm), in German, [Prague, ca. 1920?], to the poet Albert Ehrenstein; small tears at head and foot of letter not affecting text; airmail envelope addressed to Dolly Perutz in the hand of Albert Ehrenstein with the poet's return address; torn at right from removal of stamp
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Lot Note
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An extended dry spell. Kafka confides in the Viennese poet, Albert Ehrenstein, " ... for 3 years I have not written anything, whatever was published is old stuff, I don't have other pieces, not even started ones ... ." He explains the reason for the dry spell with particular poignancy, " ... when worries have penetrated to a certain layer of inner existence, writing and complaining obviously cease, indeed my resistance was not too strong ... ." Kafka began to suffer from tuberculosis in 1917 which progressively affected his writing productivity.
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Provenance
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Albert Ehrenstein — to Dolly Perutz in July 1948 — by descent to the present owner
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Estimated Price
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USD 12,000.00 - 18,000.00
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Actual Price
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USD 74,500.00
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