Circle of Ludwig Wittgenstein
Letters by Blanche Schlick (2, to F.A. Hayek), William Eccles (2), and Hermine Wittgenstein (1), 1925-1960
[With:] a typed transcript of a letter from Ludwig Wittgenstein to Rudolf Carnap (see lot 310). Provenance: Sotheby's, 21 November 1989, lots 408 and 409.

Letters relating to Wittgenstein: ‘although I did not and could not understand his great work, he is enthroned in my esteem as a man of more than human power’. Two letters by Blanche Schlick to F.A. Hayek proclaim her ‘great interest and gratification’ concerning ‘your literary task in writing for “Mind” a biographical sketch of the late Ludwig Wittgenstein [...] I think it was late in the year 1927 when my husband went on a journey with a few chosen pupils to Trattenbach bei Kirchberg, having announced previously by writing to W. the contemplated visit, but having received no answer. It was as if he were preparing to go on a holy pilgrimage, while he explained to me almost with awesome reverence that W. was one of the very greatest geniuses on earth’. She discusses an occasion on which Wittgenstein shared his belief ‘that man should earn enough to cover all material needs and not depend on inherited capital. I shall never forget the atmosphere of suppressed perturbation in my otherwise well organised household before this first visit’, adds that scientific matters were never discussed at the dining table, only in the library, as well as sketching Wittgenstein’s interactions with her two children. Eccles writes to Wittgenstein’s mother (3 March 1925) asking after her son’s whereabouts (‘before the war I used to know your son Ludwig very well indeed – he was my greatest friend – but not hearing from him since then I concluded that he must have died [...] my uncle [...] and my father will be delighted to hear that there is a possibility of seeing Ludwig again and to me it will be the event of my life as I had given up all hope’; the letter is accompanied by the reply from Hermine, Ludwig’s sister, confirming receipt as well as Ludwig’s new address. A letter by Eccles to Wittgenstein's nephew proposes gifting any letters and memorabilia relating to Wittgenstein remaining in his collection.

Blanche Schlick was the widow of the philosopher Moritz Schlick, who first met Wittgenstein in 1927. Moritz Schlick was murdered in 1936. William Eccles was Wittgenstein’s earliest English friend and colleague: see lot 309 for Wittgenstein's letters to Eccles.