Freud, Sigmund | Lengthy autograph letter signed, addressing Radó's involvement with the "Internationale Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse"

Freud, Sigmund

Autograph letter signed ("Freud"), from Freud to Sandor Radó, dated 3 October 1936, discussing the question of Radó's involvement with the Internationale Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse

2 pages (288 x 228 mm). In German, on a single leaf, "Prof. Dr. Freud" letterhead, with original envelope, addressed in Freud's hand; old folds, slight soiling to envelop. 

Freud to his friend and colleague, discussing both personal and professional matters. 

In 1913 Sandor Radó was appointed secretary of the Hungarian Psychoanalytic Society, and by 1926 Freud had named Radó editor of Zeitschrift and Imago. From 1926 to 1930 he served as secretary to the German Psychoanalytic Society, but as Nazism gathered strength, Radó felt that the looming war posed a threat to the future of psychoanalysis. He believed that many of the field's leading practitioners would be killed, and their papers and manuscripts subsequently destroyed.

Radó fled to New York in 1931, and many European analysts followed him, forming a large community that led to the rapid growth of Freudian and related schools of psychiatry in the U.S. In fact, Radó went on to organize the New York Psychoanalytical Institute on the Berlin model. In the present letter, Freud addresses the vexed question of Radó's involvement with their journal, the Internationale Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse, following Radó's emigration to America. Radó believed that his temporary absence (or so he thought at the time) from Europe was no reason to remove his name from the title-page of the journal. While only active editors were supposed to be named, Freud made an exception for Radó, whom he believed would carve out important professional channels in his new homeland.  

In these relatively early day's of Radó's new life in New York, Freud was already convinced that his loyal follower would act as a kind of ambassador for psychoanalysis analysis, and would promote the advantages of an international organization. Freud, however, goes on to not that this latter expectation was not fulfilled. Freud goes on to cite the fact that relations between colleagues in their professional community have broken down, and, in light of this, he asks Radó whether he wishes under these circumstances to be named as an editor of the journal. He notes that he expects an answer before the first number of the 1937 volume goes to press.

A lengthy letter, offering a glimpse into the origins and spread of psychoanalysis in the United States. 

(See lots 1220, and 1222-1224.)