Friedrich Engels (1820 - 1895) - bedeutender eigenhändiger Brief an Adolf Riefer, Neffe von Helene Demuth, der verstorbenen Haushälterin von Karl Marx und Friedrich Engels, 12. November 1890 - photo 1

Friedrich Engels (1820 - 1895) - bedeutender eigenhändiger Brief an Adolf Riefer, Neffe von Helene Demuth, der verstorbenen Haushälterin von Karl Marx und Friedrich Engels, 12. November 1890

Lot 3343
17.10.2023 10:00UTC +01:00
Classic
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€ 36 000
AuctioneerHermann Historica
Event locationGermany, Grasbrunn / München
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ID 1035031
Lot 3343 | Friedrich Engels (1820 - 1895) - bedeutender eigenhändiger Brief an Adolf Riefer, Neffe von Helene Demuth, der verstorbenen Haushälterin von Karl Marx und Friedrich Engels, 12. November 1890
Estimate value
€ 25 000
Doppelbogen im Format 17,8 x 11,3 cm, die Falz durchgerissen, doppelt gefaltet. Auf allen vier Seiten eigenhändig von Engels in Tinte beschrieben. Die Kopfzeile datiert "122 Regents Park Road N.W. - London 12 Nov. 1890", adressiert an "Herrn Adolf Riefer in Saarburg i/Lothr.". Engels benachrichtigt ihn über den Tod der "Tante Fräulein Helene Demuth am 4. ds. Mts.". Er kenne sie bereits seit 1845 "als sie nach dem Tod meines Freundes Marx mir die Ehre & Freude erwies, die Leitung meines Hauswesens zu übernehmen. [.] Wir haben sie am Freitag 7. Novbr. in demselben Grab wo auch Marx & Frau Marx beerdigt sind, zur Ruhe gelegt. Mit mir & den Töchtern von Marx betrauern Tausende von Freunden aller Nationen, in den Ebenen Amerikas wie in den politischen Gefängnissen Sibiriens & in allen Ländern Europas ihren Verlust. Die Verstorbene hat ein testament gemacht, worin sie den Sohn einer verstorbenen Freundin, den sie von klein auf sozusagen an Kindesstatt angenommen, [.] Frederick Lewis, zu ihrem alleinigen Erben eingesetzt hat. Derselbe hat seit längerer Zeit aus Dankbarkeit [.] den Namen Demuth angenommen.". Engels listet dann den Wert der Erbschaft auf und schließt mit "Das Testament liegt abschriftlich in Übersetzung bei. Achtungsvoll & ergebenst - F. Engels". Auf den Seiten drei und vier folgen dann in eigenhändiger Abschrift durch Engels der Text des Testaments in englischer Sprache sowie in deutscher Übersetzung "I Helen Demuth [.] declare this to be my last will. I leave all my monies, effects and other property to Frederick Lewis Demuth.. / Ich Helene Demuth [.] erkläre daß dies mein letzter Wille ist. Ich vermache alle meine Gelder, Effekten und sonstiges Eigenthum an Frederick Lewis Demuth..". Datiert 4.11.1890 und vom Anwalt vor den Zeugen Friedrich Engels, Eleano Marx-Aveling und Eduard Aveling (jüngste Tochter von Karl Marx mit Ehemann) für rechtmäßig erklärt. Am Unterrand in Bleistift bezeichnet "16 - Safe". Partiell gebräunt und fleckig.
Helene Demuth (1820 - 1890) muss nach dem Tod ihres Vaters 1826 bereits in jungen Jahren als Dienstmädchen arbeiten. 1837 kommt sie zur Familie des Trierer Regierungsrats Johann Ludwig von Westphalen, dessen Tochter Jenny seit 1843 mit Karl Marx verheiratet ist. Zu deren Unterstützung wird Helene Demuth 1845 von Jennys Mutter als Haushälterin nach Brüssel geschickt und verbleibt fortan als solche bei Familie Marx in Brüssel, Paris, Köln sowie bis zum Tod von Jenny (1881) und Karl Marx (1883) im Londoner Exil. Anschließend führte sie bis zu ihrem Tod am 4.11.1890 den Haushalt von Friedrich Engels, was dieser in obigem Brief mit den Worten kommentiert.
Dazu ein Studioportrait Helene Demuths von "Cha.S J Gearing & Co." in London, rückseitig in Bleistift bezeichnet "Helene Demuth 1890", Maße 16 x 10 cm, sowie zwei Auszüge aus dem Geburtsregister des Standesamtes St. Wendel aus dem Jahr 1921 über die Familien Riefer und Demuth.
Provenienz: Aus einer deutschen Privatsammlung. Erworben im Oktober 1984 beim Heidelberger Antiquariat Dr. Helmut Tenner, dazu in Fotokopie die entsprechenden Katalogseiten (Losnummern 16 und 17) sowie der Artikel "Ein unveröffentlichter Brief Friedrich Engels' zum Tode der Helena Demuth" der Wuppertaler Rundschau vom 8.11.1984 mit einem ausführlichen Bericht über den Verkauf des Briefes.
Zudem ein Brief des Instituts für Marxismus-Leninismus beim ZK der SED vom 10.10.1984 an das Antiquariat Tenner. Zwei Seiten, DIN A4, mit entsprechendem Briefkopf, unterschrieben vom damaligen stellvertr. Direktor des Instituts, Prof. Dr. Heinrich Gemkow (1928 - 2017). Dabei auch das Kuvert.

Friedrich Engels (1820 - 1895) – an important, handwritten letter to Adolf Riefer, nephew of Helene Demuth, the late housekeeper of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, 12 November 1890
Double sheet measuring 17.8 x 11.3 cm, the fold completely torn, folded twice. Handwritten by Engels in ink on all four pages. The header reading "122 Regents Park Road N.W. - London 12 Nov. 1890", addressed to "Herrn Adolf Riefer in Saarburg i/Lothr.". Engels informs him of the death of his aunt on the 4th of the month: "Tante Fräulein Helene Demuth am 4. ds. Mts.". He has known her since 1845 (tr.) "when she, on the death of my friend Marx, gave me the honour & pleasure of accepting to run my household. [.] We laid her to rest on Friday, 7 November, in the same grave in which Marx & Frau Marx are buried. Together with myself & Marx' daughters, thousands of friends of all nations, in the plains of America and the political prisons of Siberia & in all countries of Europe are mourning her loss. The deceased made a will and testament, in which she names as her sole heir the son of her late friend, [.] Frederick Lewis, whom she had adopted, as it were, from a very young age and raised as her own. Some time ago, this same Lewis, in gratitude, [.] changed his name to Demuth.". Engels goes on to list the value of the legacy and concludes with (tr.) "A translated copy of the will is enclosed. Respectfully & sincerely - F. Engels". On pages three and four follows the text of the will and testament, in the form of a handwritten copy by Engels, in English, with a German translation: "I Helen Demuth [.] declare this to be my last will. I leave all my monies, effects and other property to Frederick Lewis Demuth.. / Ich Helene Demuth [.] erkläre daß dies mein letzter Wille ist. Ich vermache alle meine Gelder, Effekten und sonstiges Eigenthum an Frederick Lewis Demuth..". Dated 4 November 1890 and declared legitimate by her lawyer in front of the witnesses Friedrich Engels, Eleano Marx-Aveling and Eduard Aveling (Karl Marx' youngest daughter and her husband). Inscribed "16 - Safe" in pencil on the lower edge. Partially discoloured and stained.
On the death of her father in 1826, Helene Demuth (1820 - 1890) was forced to work as a maidservant while still a young girl. In 1837, she joined the family of councillor Johann Ludwig von Westphalen of Trier, whose daughter Jenny married Karl Marx in 1843. In 1845, Helene Demuth was sent by Jenny's mother to help the couple in Brussels as housekeeper. She remained in this position with the Marx family in Brussels, Paris, Cologne and in their exile in London until the deaths of Jenny (1881) and Karl Marx (1883). She subsequently kept house for Friedrich Engels until her death on 4 November 1890, on which state of affairs he remarks in the abovementioned letter (tr.).
Comes with a studio portrait of Helene Demuth by "Cha.S J Gearing & Co." in London, inscribed "Helene Demuth 1890" in pencil on the back, measuring 16 x 10 cm, plus two extracts from the register of births at St. Wendel registry office, dated 1921, pertaining to the Riefer and Demuth families.
Provenance: From a private German collection. Acquired in October 1984 from the antiquarian bookshop Dr. Helmut Tenner of Heidelberg, including photocopies of the relevant catalogue pages (lot numbers 16 and 17) and the article (tr.) "An unpublished letter from Friedrich Engels on the death of Helena Demuth", published in Wuppertaler Rundschau on 8 November 1984, with a full report on the sale of the letter.
Moreover, a letter from the Institute for Marxism-Leninism at the Central Committee of the SED to Antiquariat Tenner, dated 10 October 1984. Two DIN A4 pages, with the corresponding letterhead, signed by the deputy director of the Institute at that time, Prof. Dr. Heinrich Gemkow (1928 - 2017). Also includes the envelope.
Condition: II - III
Place of origin:German Empire
Address of auction Hermann Historica
Bretonischer Ring 3
85630 Grasbrunn / München
Germany
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