Autograph Letter Signed

Jean Paul," a much-admired and much-maligned German writer of the Romantic period whose prolific output included such novels as "The Invisible Lodge" (1793), "Hesperus" (1795), "Siebenkäs" (1796-97), "Titan" (1800-03), "The Awkward Age" (1804-05) and many others. ALS in German, 1p, 6¼" X 8", Hof in Vorgtland, Germany, 13 December 1789. Addressed to (in translation) "Highly honored and respected Sir." Very good. Mounting traces along left edge (verso only). An unusually early example, boldly penned in dark brown ink during a period when he was living with his mother and tutoring children in a nearby village; his pseudonymously-published, poorly-received (truncated) "Selections from the Devil's Papers" was published earlier this same year. In this letter he writes an unnamed publisher that (in translation) "I take the liberty to send you the beginning of a manuscript and beg you to give me your opinion as to its probable acceptance or rejection at your earliest convenience. I have the honor to sign myself with the greatest respect...." Boldly signed "J.P.F. Richter." Richter's next book ("The Invisible Lodge") wasn't published until 1793, and parts of it such as "Life of the Cheerful Schoolmaster Maria Wutz" are believed to have been written in 1790, so it's quite possible that he was submitting some other portion of "The Invisible Lodge" with this query. An interesting example worth further research. Very scarce. (Inventory #: 42342)