Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 1
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 2
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 3
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 4
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 5
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 6
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 7
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 8
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 9
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 10
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 11
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 12
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 13
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 14
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 15
Wittgenstein’s Circle - photo 16

Wittgenstein’s Circle

Starting price
£ 100
Auction dateClassic
15.12.2023 11:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1109113
Lot 312 | Wittgenstein’s Circle
Wittgenstein’s Circle
Seven autograph letters from Blanche Schlick, William Eccles, and Hermine Wittgenstein, 3 March 1925-30 January 1960
16 pages, various sizes, from 125 x 160mm. [With:] a typed transcript of a letter from Ludwig Wittgenstein to Rudolf Carnap (see lot 310). Provenance: Sotheby's, 21 November 1989, lots 408 and 409.

Letters relating to Wittgenstein: ‘although I did not and could not understand his great work, he is enthroned in my esteem as a man of more than human power’. Including two letters from Eccles, one to Wittgenstein’s mother asking after her son’s whereabouts (‘before the war I used to know your son Ludwig very well indeed – he was my greatest friend – but not hearing from him since then I concluded that he must have died [...] my uncle [...] and my father will be delighted to hear that there is a possibility of seeing Ludwig again and to me it will be the event of my life as I had given up all hope’). Accompanied by the reply from Hermine, Ludwig’s sister, confirming receipt as well as Ludwig’s new address. Another letter from Eccles to Wittgenstein's nephew proposing the gifting of any letters and memorabilia relating to Wittgenstein remaining in his collection. Two letters by Blanche Schlick to F.A. Hayek proclaiming her ‘great interest and gratification’ concerning ‘your literary task in writing for “Mind” a biographical sketch of the late Ludwig Wittgenstein [...] I think it was late in the year 1927 when my husband went on a journey with a few chosen pupils to Trattenbach bei Kirchberg, having announced previously by writing to W. the contemplated visit, but having received no answer. It was as if he were preparing to go on a holy pilgrimage, while he explained to me almost with awesome reverence that W. was one of the very greatest geniuses on earth’. She discusses an occasion on which Wittgenstein shared his belief ‘that man should earn enough to cover all material needs and not depend on inherited capital. I shall never forget the atmosphere of suppressed perturbation in my otherwise well organised household before this first visit’, adds that scientific matters were never discussed at the dining table, only in the library, as well as sketching Wittgenstein’s interactions with her two children.

William Eccles was Wittgenstein’s earliest English friend and colleague: see lot 309 for Wittgenstein's letters to Eccles. Blanche Schlick was the widow of the philosopher Moritz Schlick, who first met Wittgenstein in 1927. Moritz Schlick was murdered in 1936.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
10.12.2023 12:00 – 17:00
11.12.2023 09:00 – 20:00
12.12.2023 09:00 – 17:00
13.12.2023 09:00 – 17:00
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.