NRA-L-000028 / 1866

Letter from Carl Brants to W. J. Sekera, 1866-02-26

German professional correspondence from pharmacist Carl Brants in Vienna to W. J. Sekera, pharmacist in Münchengrätz, dated 26 February 1866. The letter concerns delayed correspondence, professional obligations and an association's opinion on Sekera's manuscript. The folded address side bears Vienna and Münchengrätz postal markings.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000028

NRA-L-000028 image 1 showing the address to W. J. Sekera, pharmacist in Muenchengraetz, with Austrian postage and postal markings.
Image 1Address panel and postal evidence.
NRA-L-000028 image 2 showing the upper section of page 1 of Carl Brants's German letter from Vienna, dated 26 February 1866.
Image 2Letter text - Page 1, upper section.
NRA-L-000028 image 3 showing the lower section of page 1 of Carl Brants's German letter concerning professional correspondence and a manuscript.
Image 3Letter text - Page 1, lower section.
NRA-L-000028 image 4 showing page 2 and the signed closing of Carl Brants's German letter dated 26 February 1866.
Image 4Letter text - Page 2 and signature.

Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address Panel

Original transcript

S. Wohlgeboren
Herrn W. J. Sekera
p. t. Apotheker & c.
zu
Münchengrätz

Address Panel

English translation

To His Well-Born
Mr. W. J. Sekera
p. t. apothecary, etc.
in
Münchengrätz

Letter Text - Page 1

Original transcript

[Embossed letterhead:]
CARL BRANTS
APOTHEKER.

Wien d. 26. Febr. 1866.

Mein lieber Herr College!

Ihr letztes Schreiben vom 23. Febr. ist der Ausdruck
eines gekränkten und durch mein Nichtschreiben beleidig=
ten Collegens, was ich um so mehr bedauern müßte,
da es gewiß nicht meine Sache, gegen irgend Jemanden
nicht collegial zu handeln, noch viel weniger einen
alten verdienstvollen Collegen nicht zu achten. Sie
müssen aber auch gerecht seyn und meine Verhältnisse
betrachten: ich habe ein großes Geschäft, bin Gremial=
Vorstand, Gemeinderath und Schulaufseher und habe
so viel zu thun, daß mir factisch die Zeit zu kurz
wird und da lasse ich mich im Beantworten der Briefe
unterstützen, was hier um so angezeigter war, weil
der Verein sein Urtheil über Ihr Manuscript abzu=
geben hatte. Ich habe den Brief nicht gelesen, erwarte
aber nicht, daß er nur im Entferntesten unartig wäre,
wo ich dann gleich um die Einsendung ersuchen müßte,
denn ich dulde dem H. Redacteur nicht das Geringste
und verlange auch von ihm nichts Unrechtes.

Letter Text - Page 1

English translation

[Embossed letterhead:]
CARL BRANTS
APOTHECARY.

Vienna, 26 February 1866.

My dear Mr. Colleague!

Your last letter of 23 February is the expression of a colleague who has been hurt and offended by my failure to write, which I had to regret all the more, since it is certainly not my way to act uncollegially towards anyone, still less to fail to respect an old and deserving colleague. But you must also be fair and consider my circumstances: I have a large business, I am Gremial-Vorstand [Head of the Guild], Gemeinderath [City Councilor], and Schulaufseher [School Inspector], and I have so much to do that I in fact run short of time. I therefore have others assist me in answering letters, which was all the more appropriate here because the Association had to give its opinion on your manuscript. I have not read the letter, but I do not expect that it was even remotely impolite; if it was, I would immediately have to ask for it to be sent to me, for I tolerate not the slightest impropriety from Mr. Editor, nor do I demand anything improper of him.

Letter Text - Page 2

Original transcript

Indem ich auf diese meine Aeußerung erwarte,
daß Ihr Unwille gegen mich verschwinden wird,
lege ich Ihnen meine Photographie bey, damit
Sie stets das Bild eines ehrenhaften und festen
Charakters, den nichts in der Welt ändert,
vor sich haben.

Nun leben Sie recht wohl, sind Sie mir
herzlich gegrüßt und nehmen Sie die Ver=
sicherung meiner aufrichtigsten Collegialität

als
Ihr
Freund C. Brants mp.

Letter Text - Page 2

English translation

In the expectation that, after this statement of mine, your displeasure with me will disappear, I enclose my photograph so that you may always have before you the image of an honorable and firm character that nothing in the world can change.

Now fare very well, accept my heartfelt greetings and the assurance of my sincerest collegial regard

as
your
friend C. Brants, m.p.

Notes

The closing abbreviation mp. represents manu propria, indicating that the signature is in the sender's own hand.

Discovery Terms

  • Historical correspondence
  • Professional correspondence
  • Pharmacists
  • Collegial relations
  • Professional associations
  • Manuscript review
  • Photographic portrait exchange
  • German language