MAHLER, Gustav (1860-1911). Autograph letter signed ('Gustav Mahler') to an unidentified female friend, n.p., n.d., expressing his sorrow at hearing of the state of her health after all the difficulties of the previous day ('die Strapazen des Tages'), offering to come that evening 'after the opera, so about 9.30pm?', though only if she can honestly assure him that this will not be inconvenient; a postscript goes on 'How is it possible that the doctor himself is sick? I shall, as I guessed yesterday, have to take "the cure" in hand myself', 2 pages, 8vo (somewhat soiled, weak at horizontal fold with short split. Provenance: Walter Benjamin Autographs, New York, 19 February 1957.

MAHLER, Gustav (1860-1911). Autograph letter signed ('Gustav Mahler') to an unidentified female friend, n.p., n.d., expressing his sorrow at hearing of the state of her health after all the difficulties of the previous day ('die Strapazen des Tages'), offering to come that evening 'after the opera, so about 9.30pm?', though only if she can honestly assure him that this will not be inconvenient; a postscript goes on 'How is it possible that the doctor himself is sick? I shall, as I guessed yesterday, have to take "the cure" in hand myself', 2 pages, 8vo (somewhat soiled, weak at horizontal fold with short split. Provenance: Walter Benjamin Autographs, New York, 19 February 1957.

'Soll ich nach der Oper, also circa ½ 10 Uhr zu Ihnen kommen? Bitte, lassen Sie mir durch den Überbringer eine Zeile zukommen. -- Ich komme aber nur, wenn Sie mich dessen ehrlich versichern können, daß es Ihnen nicht schadet ... Ist das auch Recht, daß der Arzt selbst krank wird? Ich werde also, wie ich schon gestern vermuthete, selbst "die Cur" in die Hand nehmen müssen'.