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Goethe letters in Hamburg: A historical legacy is being auctioned!
In Hamburg, over 50 handwritten letters from Goethe were auctioned off, providing insights into his life and work.
Goethe letters in Hamburg: A historical legacy is being auctioned!
A remarkable auction took place in Hamburg on November 26, 2025: over 50 handwritten letters by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe were auctioned there, and the event attracted numerous literature enthusiasts and collectors. The Ketterer auction house reported that the letters provide exciting insights into Goethe's life and personality. This correspondence includes not only confidential communications, but also business letters that Goethe wrote as a privy councilor. Silke Lehmann, antiquarian and purchaser at Ketterer, read the letters thoroughly and emphasized their diversity. They address, among other things, natural sciences, theater, literature, politics and private matters.
A particularly notable letter in the collection is a letter of recommendation for the architect Johann August Arns, which highlights the importance of Goethe's influence in various areas. The letters, which were written between 1780 and 1832, were written on fine handmade paper and have the characteristic smell of old documents, which makes them particularly attractive for collectors. The collection also includes autographs by Goethe's contemporaries such as Friedrich Schiller and Bettina von Arnim.
From collectors and auction numbers
A highlight of the auction was an invitation to the famous naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, which changed hands for an impressive 50,000 euros. Goethe's letters show him in different facets: as a passionate poet, serious scientist and committed minister. This makes the collection particularly versatile and interesting for historians and literature lovers.
A look into the future
In order to fully capture Goethe's letters, the project to create a historical-critical complete edition of his correspondence has been in existence since 2003. The Weimar Classic Foundation has taken on this project, which aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the approximately 20,000 letters Goethe left behind. This edition already contains 15,000 letters, with around 5% still undiscovered in printed form. The edition consists of 38 volumes and is supported by the German Research Foundation. Not only is the chronology revised, but a scientific commentary is also sought.
The fascination for Goethe's life and work remains alive. Such auctions and the associated projects help to preserve and further research the legacy of one of Germany's greatest poets for the future.