Lot 758
Otto Fürst von Bismarck (1815 - 1898) – a message of congratulations from the conservative fraternities at Austrian universities on his 70th birthday in 1885
Orders and Military Collectibles until 1918 | A104m | Live auction | 875 Lots
Hammer price € 3,600
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The letter of congratulations written in fine calligraphy in black ink with gold and red embellishments, a gold edge and ornamental initial in watercolour. This is followed by 40 pages, listing hundreds of signatures of fraternity members, the respective fraternities written in calligraphy, partly with gold and coloured decor. Including "Albia" in Vienna, "Allemannia" in Graz, "Alemannia" in Vienna, "Carolina" in Prague, "Bruna-Sudetia" in Vienna, "Franconia" in Graz, "Germania" in Vienna, "Ghibellinia" in Prague, "Libertas" in Vienna and in Brünn, "Olympia" in Vienna, "Teutonia" in Vienna and Prague und "Suevia" in Innsbruck. Each sheet measuring 43 x 31.5 cm. In a magnificent leather chest, with "Paul Pollack Wien VI. Hirscheng. 7." and "Gez. Rudolf Gross" embossed in gold on the back. The front cover with an enamelled portrait of Bismarck in the centre (badly damaged), signed "Auguste Wahrmund Wien" on the side, surrounded by the coloured coats of arms of German states on an oak tree, lavishly embellished with gold-edged oak leaf ornaments. A border of finely chiselled leafy vines in relief on a gold, crowned background. Six silver-plated metal mountings with two of the six enamelled inlays, the German coat of arms and Bismarck's date of birth. The back cover chased with fine geometric leather patterns, smooth leather spine. The inner surfaces and three outer sides covered in turquoise and gold paper, damaged in places and missing underneath. Dimensions of the casket 45 x 34 x 5.5 cm. Otto von Bismarck, as a student himself a member of the Göttingen Corps Hannovera, with which he fought 25 bloody battles in 1833 and ultimately served as Consenior, was revered by the fraternities during his lifetime and especially after his dismissal by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1890. The pinnacle was a trip to Friedrichsruh in honour of his 80th birthday in 1895, when 6,000 students came together to celebrate the "Iron Chancellor's" special day. Auguste Wahrmund (1862 - 1936) was an enamel painter in Vienna.Condition: II + Questions about the lot?
