MUSEUM QUALITY LITERARY TREASURE: Ivan Turgenev 1874 Hand-Signed ALS mentioning "Fathers and Sons" & "A Sportsman's Sketches"
Up for sale is an extraordinary piece of 19th-century world literary history: an original 2-page Handwritten Letter Signed (ALS) by legendary Russian author Ivan Turgenev, dated April 19, 1874 (Karlsbad).
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WHY THIS LETTER IS EXTREMELY RARE & VALUABLE:
Unlike common polite or social letters, this remarkable document features Turgenev personally writing out the titles of four of his most celebrated masterpieces in his own hand:
1. "A Sportsman's Sketches" (Записки охотника) — His breakout masterpiece (mentioned on both page 1 and page 2). 2. "Fathers and Sons" (Отцы и дети) — His crowning achievement and one of the most important novels in world literature. 3. "On the Eve" (Накануне) — His famous 1860 novel. 4. "Smoke" (Дым) — His major 1867 novel.
The letter discusses authorized German translation rights (Ausgewählte Werke) and copyright matters regarding A Sportsman's Sketches, written while he was staying at Karlsbad before returning to Paris (Rue de Douai, 50).
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AUTHENTICATION & CERTIFICATION: * Authenticated by PSA/DNA with a full Letter of Authenticity (LOA). * Certification Number: AM07370 * Includes tamper-evident label with fluorescence verification.
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HISTORICAL TRANSCRIPTION & ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
[Original Russian Text / 俄语原文]
Karlsbad König von England Среда, 19/7 Апр. 1874.
Многоуважаемый Август Федорович,
Я совершено почти потерял возможность писать — и потому мне лишь только приятно ответить на Ваше письмо — въ которомъ концу-то удобные утешительные. — Что касается до меня, то мой приютъ — был сперва тожъ, но по мере возможности, освободиться отъ подагры, которую меня сильно мучитъ; но со всей душой свѣжихъ сдѣлался припадокъ — и я бросаю къ черту лечение и уѣзжаю в Парисъ, где моё место. Свѣжая квартира — Rue de Douai, 50.
Жалѣю, что Вы приехали в Ригу не съ единственной цѣлью печатать Вашъ переводъ «Записокъ Охотника» — Но былъ съ нимъ достаточно. Переводъ, который передаетъ в Ригѣ — (не печатаетъ — а издаетъ — но во всякомъ) — извѣстил с мало разрешения: лѣтъ 5 тому назадъ здѣшній книгопродавецъ Э. Бере обратился ко мне съ просьбой — разрешить ему издавать переводъ моихъ сочиненій — Ausgewählte Werke — Я согласился — и вотъ уже 8 томиковъ вышли.
(Page 2)
Тудъ же 8-й: «Отцы и Дѣти», «Дымъ», «Накануне» (въ вторыхъ изданияхъ) — и «Записк. Охотника» составятъ 9-й томику. — Вы видите, что мне не приходилось протестовать противъ его изданія; переводъ Е. О. сделанъ вновъ — и самъ впослѣдствіи весьма доволенъ откликнулся, оцѣнивши Вашего перевода въ идеи и сочувствовалъ — но я ничемъ ни при чемъ а ничего сдѣлать не могу. —
За симъ желаю Вамъ всего хорошаго и благополучнаго переезда въ Петербургъ — Где бы намъ съ единственной такой намъ видеться.
Karlsbad König von England Wednesday, April 19/7, 1874.
Highly esteemed August Theodorovich,
I have almost completely lost the ability to write — and therefore it is only now a pleasure to reply to your letter, in which there are finally convenient and comforting news. As for me, my retreat was initially the same, trying as much as possible to free myself from gout, which torments me severely; but a fresh attack came with full force — so I am throwing treatment to the devil and leaving for Paris, where my place is. New apartment address: Rue de Douai, 50.
I regret that you arrived in Riga not with the sole purpose of printing your translation of "A Sportsman's Sketches" — but there was enough with it. The translator who passed it on in Riga (who does not print, but publishes it — in any case) informed me with little authorization: about 5 years ago, the local bookseller E. Behre approached me with a request to allow him to publish a German translation of my selected works — Ausgewählte Werke. I agreed — and by now 8 volumes have already been published.
(Page 2)
Included in those 8 volumes are: "Fathers and Sons", "Smoke", "On the Eve" (the former two in second editions) — and "A Sportsman's Sketches" will make up the 9th volume. You see that I could not protest against his publication; the translation by E. O. was done anew, and he himself subsequently expressed great satisfaction, appreciating the idea of your translation and sympathizing with it — but I am caught in the middle and can do nothing about it.
With this, I wish you all the best and a safe journey to St. Petersburg — where we might see each other under such unique circumstances.
Warmly shaking your hand, Yours devotedly, Iv. Turgenev