L. Reichardt. Nine autograph letters to Charlotte Pistor, c. 1809-1826

Louise Reichardt

Nine autograph letters signed (“Louise”; “L.”), to Charlotte Pistor

concerning family, domestic and financial matters, her lessons, which she gives until 8 in the evening, her sometimes wretched health, also detailing some journeys, mentioning Schleiermacher, Arnim, Carl Pistor, Mine Reichardt, Fritz Reichardt, and her mother (recounting an illness of the latter and describing her wishes to be carried out after her death), and touching on many other subjects

…Es ist mit der lieben Mutter doch so gut nicht geblieben als wir vorgestern hofften, das Fieber kam gestern stärker wieder…

32 closely-written pages, various 4to and 8vo sizes, some letters with integral autograph address-panels, seal tears and remains of seal, five letters postmarked “Hambourg”, with an autograph note concerning the letters by Ernst Rudorff, no place or date [Hamburg?, c.1809-1826; some letters with indication of day and month]; together with a 3-page autograph letter signed by Louise Reichardt apparently to another member of her family

A remarkable collection of letters by the composer, singing teacher and daughter of J.F. Reichardt, Louise Reichardt (1779-1826). Her correspondent here was a step-daughter of J.F. Reichardt’s, Charlotte (“Lotte”) Pistor, née Hensler – the mother of Betty Pistor (1808-1887), the early sweetheart of Mendelssohn and mother of the Berlin pianist and teacher Ernst Rudorff (1840-1916), in whose collection the letters were preserved.