Goethe, Johann Wolfgang

Document signed ("JW Goethe"), 1 page (13 1/8 x 7 3/4 in.; 332 x 197 mm), Weimar, 1 June 1819, to Christian Ernst Friedrich Weller at Jena; some marginal soiling and a few tiny spots, formerly folded. Matted, glazed and framed with a portrait engraving.

Ingilby collection (sale, Phillips 14 November 1991, lot 74)

Not in the Weimar edition of the Briefe (1905), 4th part, vol. 31

Goethe provides authorization, in a light-hearted style, to his friend the librarian at Jena, to remove books from the Archducal castle: "After the holidays have passed, the duties of the Jena library have taken hold of you in earnest. The librarian Dr. Guldenapfel is also directed to endure his tasks, that occupy him daily in the library for 6 to 7 hours, so Dr. Weller gets the long repeated order for the transport of books from the castle ...."  He signs as Oberaufsicht über alle unmittelbare Anstalten für Wissenschaft und Kunst ("overseer for all direct arrangements in science and art").