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ALS in German, signed “Fritz Nietzsche” and "Fr. Wilhelm Nietzsche," one page, 5.5 x 8.5, no date but circa August 1857. Handwritten letter to his childhood friend Wilhelm Pinder, expressing his desire to see him again as quickly as possible in order to persevere on their path of wisdom and knowledge. In full (translated): "I wanted to write to you again before your return from the seaside. Because it has been a long time since we separated and last saw each other!—From what I have heard, everything is going very well for you and your dear mother. You will certainly enjoy it there and I have often wished to be with you. I look forward to hearing that you will tell me everything in detail. I have just been alone again for a while, while mum stayed with Elisabeth in Eilenburg. So, I often thought of you and greatly regretted your absence. I gave your homework to Mr. D. Silber, who in front of the whole class praised you highly. We are not yet at the time of individual oral exams, nor have we yet had to submit Hannibal. I have now completed the Dion and am starting the Chabrias. In the Alcibiades we have reached chapter 7. In general, we now always have enough work and I have no time for our projects. You will also, for sure, prefer to stay in the fresh air. Come back to us in perfect health, we will then have many things to tell each other, but in the meantime we will think well of each other and maintain our affection." He adds a brief postscript, signed "Fr. Wilhelm Nietzsche," in full: "N.B. Mom has just charged me with all sorts of things for your dear mom and for you. I sincerely await your return." Addressed on the reverse in Nietzsche's own hand. In fine condition, with a couple small tape reinforcements on the reverse.
In the essay 'Nietzsche's Life in Outline,' Tad Beckman makes note of the Nietzsche's relationship with Wilhelm Pinder and its impact on his intellectual and moral development: 'During the Naumburg years (1850-1858), Nietzsche engaged himself with two close friendships—Wilhelm Pinder and Gustav Krug—both of Nietzsche's own age and both from families well connected in provincial government. The relationships lasted, by correspondence at least, throughout Nietzsche's life. Beyond these associations, Nietzsche was apparently a shy boy who did not make friends easily. He spent only one year in public school and then was placed in a private preparatory school, also attended by the Pinder and Krug boys. From there, the three entered the Naumburg Domgymnasium, or secondary school, in 1854. Nietzsche was invited into both the Pinder and Krug households and this had a great influence on him. At the Pinder household he heard literature seriously read and discussed, including especially Goethe. At the Krug household he heard music—especially on the Krug's fine piano—and met Felix Mendelssohn. Meanwhile, at the private school, he was learning Greek and Latin from the Director, Dr. Weber. Thus, classics, literature, and music were exciting parts of Nietzsche's life, from his earliest years.'
The present letter evokes Nietzsche's excitement in reading the classics, as well as his close friendship with Wihelm Pinder. Interestingly, Nietzsche would begin his career as a classical philologist before turning to philosophy. He became the youngest person to hold the Chair of Classical Philology at the University of Basel in 1869 at the age of 24, but resigned in 1879 due to health problems that plagued him most of his life; he completed much of his core writing in the following decade.
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