Details
GRIMM, Wilhelm (1786-1859). Autograph letter signed ('Wilh. Grimm') to Professor Büsching, Cassel, 16 March 1825, 3 pages, 4to, on a bifolium (seal tears, repaired, affecting two words, marginal browning, excision of upper left corner, repaired).
ON RUNES: the letter opens with anxious comments about a cast being made of a stone at Willingshausen. Büsching interprets the marks on the stone as 'warning signs', but Grimm considers this impossible to prove: 'Sie gedenken diese Steine im schlimmsten Fall als Warnungstafeln zu benutzen, aber es kommt mir vor, als würde es ebenso schwer fallen zu beweisen, daß der Augenschein trüge und diese Zeichen unbedeutend und zufällig seyen, als das Gegentheil'; the letter goes on to warn against comparing runes from different parts of the world, referring to the studies of Humboldt, and urges the usefulness of publishing one really accurate transcription, rather than a quantity of speculative works.
Grimm was at this period secretary of the library in Cassel, where his investigations into early German language and literature included considerable work on runes.
ON RUNES: the letter opens with anxious comments about a cast being made of a stone at Willingshausen. Büsching interprets the marks on the stone as 'warning signs', but Grimm considers this impossible to prove: 'Sie gedenken diese Steine im schlimmsten Fall als Warnungstafeln zu benutzen, aber es kommt mir vor, als würde es ebenso schwer fallen zu beweisen, daß der Augenschein trüge und diese Zeichen unbedeutend und zufällig seyen, als das Gegentheil'; the letter goes on to warn against comparing runes from different parts of the world, referring to the studies of Humboldt, and urges the usefulness of publishing one really accurate transcription, rather than a quantity of speculative works.
Grimm was at this period secretary of the library in Cassel, where his investigations into early German language and literature included considerable work on runes.
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