261. Ferenc Kazinczy (1759–1831), writer, poet.

Autograph letter addressed „Nagy tiszteletű Drága Jó Uram, kedves Uram Bátyám” (Most Honorable, Dear Sir, My Dear Elder Brother).
The recipient was Vice-Palatine Imre Péchy, a relative of the author (his mother, Anna Komáromy, and Kazinczy’s grandmother, Julianna Komáromy, were sisters). Ferenc Kerényi, in one of his studies, noted that such a form of address was reserved exclusively for Péchy, who was Chief Curator of the Trans-Tisza Reformed Church District. He was also Kazinczy’s patron, often assisting his family. The letter begins: “Both Sophie and I received with the deepest gratitude Your Grace’s kind concern for Sophie’s recovery.” This presumably refers to her convalescence following the birth of their youngest child, Lajos (later executed as a martyr colonel), on October 20. The 61-year-old Kazinczy wrote beautifully of his wife: “That little Sophie, whom I love boundlessly, as if she were my own child, and from whom I expect to believe that I love her dearly, – I did not know.” He goes on to describe the grape harvest, the hardships of farming, and news of acquaintances. He mentions Pál Szemere, the engagement of Ferenc Dercsényi and Klára Szemere, and lists the invitees. The letter closes with greetings to relatives and, in a postscript, Sophie’s own request.
2 written pages. 
Dated: (Széphalom, 1820.) „12. Nov. házasságom 16dik esztendejének első napján” (12 November, the first day of the 16th year of my marriage).
Provenance: In the envelope of Géza Vasberényi’s collection.
 
Starting price: 1 200 000,-