ANDERSEN, HANS CHRISTIAN (1805-1875). Danish author, best known for his fairy tales.
Autograph Letter Signed, in Danish two and a half 8vo pages, Copenhagen, January 15, 1870.
To 20 year old Frederic Carl Klixbull, assistant to his father, station master, Søncke Sørensen Klixbull. The letter is incorrectly dated. In 1870, H.C. Andersen was in Nice, France. The diaries, vol. IX, p. 10 (1871) Monday the 16 January: “Sendt brev og Manuscript til Poeten ved Marslet Station ved Odense” (…sent letter and manuscript to the poet at Marslet Station, Odense…) “Dear Sir! In the end of November last year I received your first letter with the enclosed poems. At that time I was very busy and I could not comply with your wish to read them. Later at Christmas I read your poems and wanted to write back to you-then I could not find the letter with your name and address! However I hoped that you would stop by for a visit when you were in Copenhagen or write me a new letter. Yesterday I received another letter from you and now I can return your manuscript of which I had preferred to talk to you about instead of writing. From the few poems you sent me it is impossible to say something about your talent. The 16 lyric poems don’t stand clear and strong to me. To me they seem very inspired from Ingemann’s [Bernhard Severin Ingemann (1789 –1862), was a Danish novelist and poet] earliest period. I am afraid that I can’t encourage you - however I don’t’ want to disappoint you. I don’t know your age, and your situation. I want to tell you like I have told more that one young talented poet: “Do not write if you do not feel an urge to do so. Consider the nature around you and look into yourself, and it will create great joy to your life. However, please do not let my remark discourage you. My opinion is and always will be of one man only." Signed, “Yours truly, H.C. Andersen.” (Item ID: 1520)
$6,000.00
Andersen holograph letters are occasionally available, but letters discussing motivation to write in such a clear articulate way are rare. This letter includes the superb comment, “Do not write if you do not feel an urge to do so. Consider the nature around you and look into yourself, and it will create great joy to your life. However, please do not let my remark discourage you. My opinion is and always will be of one man only." Included is the envelope, “For Mr. F. C. Klixbull, Marslev Station, Odense (Denmark).” Handsomely bound in a burgundy leather and velour binding.
