December 2012 Auction Ends Tuesday, December 18th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/18/2012
Franz Kafka addresses an envelope, dated 23 June 1913, to his fiancee, Fraulein Felice Bauer, in Berlin. On the verso, he signs ''F. Kafka'' and writes his address in Prague. Kafka, the acclaimed existentialist writer of novels and short stories, had proposed to Bauer a few days earlier and she had accepted; however, Kafka now cancelled their engagement. Bauer saved her letters from Kafka, which were published in ''Letters to Felice.'' According to the book, in this envelope, Kafka sent a letter listing all the reasons why he couldn't marry Bauer. Their courtship lasted from 1912-1917, with two engagements, but it did not end in marriage. Kafka died from tuberculosis in 1924, at the age of 40. Most of his work, including the novel, ''Metamorphosis,'' was published posthumously, making his signature incredibly scarce. Minor soiling and creasing to 6'' x 4'' envelope bearing Austro-Hungarian postage stamps and Berlin postmark. Overall very good. A very scarce signature by Kafka.
Scarce Franz Kafka Signature -- on Envelope Once Containing Letter to His Fiancee, Listing the Reasons Why He Could Not Marry Her
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