Freud, Sigmund. Typed Letter in German, Signed by Sigmund Freud on His Personal Stationery, to Swiss Psychoanalyst Mira Oberholzer, Regarding Wilhelm Reich. Vienna, February 8, 1927. [2] pp. on a single sheet of Freud's personal Vienna stationery measuring 8-15/16" x 5-13/16" (227 x 148 mm), professionally encapsulated within a "PSA/DNA Certified Authentic Autograph" tamper-evident protective holder (Cert. No. 85788176) measuring 13-3/16" x 9-11/16" (335 x 246 mm). Signed boldly by the father of psychoanalysis as "Freud" in dark ink. Accompanied for purposes of definitive provenance and bibliographical context by a Typed Letter Signed (TLS) on The Sigmund Freud Archives, Inc. letterhead dated January 12, 1984, from Dr. Kurt R. Eissler, the legendary founder and Secretary of the Archives. Writing to a previous owner to authenticate and address the uncommon typed format of this specific 1927 text, Eissler provides crucial historical verification: "To answer your question, why was this letter typed while the earlier one of Dec. 9, 1921 had been handwritten: As a rule, Prof. Freud wrote his letters by hand, but following his operation in 1924 when he was no longer in good health, he resorted from time to time to having his letters typed."
The physical condition of the letter is graded NEAR FINE (utilizing the standard antiquarian book grading scale for works on paper). The single sheet remains structurally secure and intact, exhibiting a single, routine horizontal crease along the center from when folded for mailing, and minor, typical signs of handling commensurate with a native 1920s postal survival. The paper matrix presents an exceptionally sharp, well-preserved survival, remaining exceptionally clean, bright, and stable with no prominent foxing, fading, or silverfish damage. The ink signature remains extraordinarily crisp, dark, and perfectly preserved under the UV-protected archival encapsulation. Internally, the text and ink work are well-preserved, with minor defects restricted to isolated instances of light, routine age-toning typical of a century-old paper document.
A Harmonious Intersection of Three Psychoanalytic Pioneers
This exceptional, museum-grade manuscript captures a rare, deeply affectionate moment from the golden era of psychoanalysis, connecting three of the movement's absolute pioneers at a unique historical juncture when all were still working in complete harmony. Written on February 8, 1927, the letter is addressed to Mira Oberholzer-Gincburg (1884–1949), a trailblazer who stood as one of the world's first female psychoanalysts and a pioneer in child psychology.
The central focus of the correspondence is Freud’s remarkably high regard, compassion, and protective warmth for his brilliant young acolyte, Wilhelm Reich (1897–1957). Long before their relationship would fracture under the weight of irreconcilable theoretical and radical political differences, Freud viewed the thirty-year-old Reich as a rising star, introducing him here as "one of the most capable, zealous, and ambitious analysts in Vienna."
As noted in the accompanying 1984 authentication letter by Dr. Kurt R. Eissler—the preeminent keeper of the Freud Collection at the Library of Congress—this correspondence is a masterwork of personality, illustrating a side of the father of psychoanalysis that rarely makes it into textbooks. It showcases Prof. Freud's distinct sense of humor (dryly joking that his own Analytical Fund contains "exactly 0.0 francs, marks, or shillings") and his deep, paternal compassion for his younger pupils. Rather than a dry clinical document, this letter stands as a vibrant, primary testament to the human bonds, mutual respect, and early camaraderie that built the foundation of modern psychological history.
Complete English Translation
The letter reads, in full:
Dear Doctor!
It will come as no surprise to you that one turns to you when one is in need of your assistance. The matter at hand today is as follows: Dr. Wilhelm Reich, I do not know whether you have met him personally, he's one of the most capable, zealous, and ambitious analysts in Vienna; he is of a somewhat impetuous temperament, an excellent worker, and thirty years of age. He has recently developed a highly suspicious lesion at the apex of his lung, in consequence of which he is currently residing in Davos-Platz, at the Pension Sonnenhalde. His financial circumstances are no better than those of other Viennese; it is unclear how he will manage to defray the costs of an extended stay up there. The Analytical Fund, which would certainly recognize a duty to assist him, currently possesses assets amounting to exactly 0.0 francs, marks, or shillings.
The young man is positively eager to work, and some professional occupation would be of great psychological benefit to him as well. I therefore ask you, should you find yourself in a position to refer a neurotic patient to Davos who is to begin or continue analytical treatment there, or should you happen to have patients in Davos whom you know personally, not to forget Dr. Reich. In doing so, you would be performing a good deed, not only for the physician but, in all likelihood, for the patient as well. Dr. Reich would also be eminently suitable for conducting training analyses, should an opportunity to do so arise.
I feel a distinct sense of relief now that I have written this letter to you, for it strikes me as the very best thing I can do on his behalf. I have addressed a similar request to Pfister simultaneously.
With warm regards to you, your husband, and your child,
Yours, Freud
A SUPERB, HISTORICALLY CRITICAL TYPED LETTER SIGNED BY SIGMUND FREUD CAPTURING A RARE MOMENT OF HARMONY, HUMOR, AND DEEP COMPASSION FOR HIS ACOLYTE WILHELM REICH, WRITTEN TO PIONEERING FEMALE PSYCHOANALYST MIRA OBERHOLZER SHORTLY BEFORE THE FAMOUS HISTORIC RIFT BETWEEN FREUD AND REICH, CONSTITUTING A PARAMOUNT ARTIFACT FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH INTO THE GOLDEN AGE OF PSYCHOANALYSIS, EUROPEAN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY, AND THE HUMAN GENESIS OF THE FREUDIAN CIRCLE, REPRESENTING A CRITICAL ACQUISITION FOR INSTITUTIONAL SPECIAL COLLECTIONS OR EXTRAORDINARY PRIVATE COLLECTIONS DEVOTED TO THE HISTORY OF MODERN PSYCHOLOGY.