Important manuscript DS in German, signed “Carl Busse," "Dehmel," "Gustav Falke," "Arno Holz," "Paul Heyse," and "H. von Hofmannsthal,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 8.25 x 13, March 1910. A handwritten letter from the German lyric poet Carl Busse to other members of the "Kartell lyrischer Autoren,” a cartel founded in 1902 to protect the rights of German lyricists to earn money from their writing; founded by Richard Dehmel and Arno Holz, the cartel soon grew to more than a hundred members. The letter features autograph responses from five other committee members—Richard Dehmel, Gustav Falke, Arno Holz, Paul Heyse, and Hugo von Hoffmannsthal—and sheds light on the internal workings of the cartel, in particular a disagreement among the committee: Alfred Mombert has been elected to the committee, but questions have been raised about the election process. Busse's letter suggests another election following a new procedure, to which the other members respond. Dehmel writes (translated): "I stand by my vote for Mombert, but have nothing against proceeding according to Herr Busse's suggestion at a future election. Incidentally, it is not yet at all certain that Mombert will accept the nomination." In very good to fine condition, with small splits along moderate intersecting folds. Incidentally, Mombert did not join the committee in 1910, but only in 1914, after the death of Paul Heyse.
