FREUD, Sigmund (1856-1939). Autograph letter signed ('Freud') to Dr Gastão Pereira da Silva, Vienna, 4 May 1934, 1½ pages, large 4to (287 x 228mm), (somewhat spotted and soiled), envelope.
Lot 50

FREUD, Sigmund (1856-1939). Autograph letter signed ('Freud') to Dr Gastão Pereira da Silva, Vienna, 4 May 1934, 1½ pages, large 4to (287 x 228mm), (somewhat spotted and soiled), envelope.

Closed15 July 2015

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GBP 5,000

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FREUD, Sigmund (1856-1939). Autograph letter signed ('Freud') to Dr Gastão Pereira da Silva, Vienna, 4 May 1934, 1½ pages, large 4to (287 x 228mm), (somewhat spotted and soiled), envelope.

FREUD ON HIS OWN ‘HIDEOUS PHYSIOGNOMY’. Freud thanks his correspondent for sending him two books, for all his efforts on behalf of psychoanalysis and for the part he has played in the translations by which Freud's works have entered the literature of Brazil ('Ich bin in Ihrer Schuld ... für alle Bemühungen, die Sie an die Psychanalyse wenden und Ihren Anteil an den Übersetzungen durch die mich Ihr Freund Dr Ninitsch in die Literatur Ihres Landes einführt’). Freud regrets however that having resolved to give up contributing forewords or recommendations to others’ works, he cannot comply with Pereira da Silva’s request for one – which would in any case be complicated by his lack of knowledge of Portuguese; but this is not to be regretted, as Freud’s name is for the moment unknown in Brazil. Freud promises to send a signed photograph, adding self-deprecatingly ‘I cannot think what the value to you can be of the portrait of the hideous physiognomy of a now 78-year old man [Ich weiss zwar nicht was Ihnen das Abbild der hässlichen Physiognomie eines jetzt 78 jährigen Mannes wert sein kann]’. He ends with best wishes ‘in memory of my own struggles against stubborn resistance [In Erinnerung an meine eigenen Kämpfe mit hartnäckigen Widerständen]’.

Dr Gastão Pereira da Silva (1897-1987) was one of the earliest psychoanalysts in Rio de Janeiro.