1887 H.E. von Holst ALS – Declines Lowell Lectures, American History For Sale

Offered here is an 1887 manuscript letter (copy) written by Hermann Eduard von Holst (1841–1904), the prominent German-American historian best known for his monumental work The Constitutional and Political History of the United States.

The letter is addressed to Hon. Augustus Lowell and concerns an invitation to deliver the prestigious Lowell Lectures in Boston.

This is a strong, content-rich academic letter touching directly on:

• The prestige of the Lowell Lectures, which von Holst calls a distinction “any European scholar would be proud of”
• His deep connection to American history and reliance on U.S.-based research materials
• A striking line about needing to return to America to “breathe American air… and inhale… the spirit of the American people and their institutions”
• His frustration at being “cut off from the sources” while working in Europe
• His formal decline of the invitation due to his recent election as Prorector of the University of Freiburg, confirmed by the Grand Duke
• A clear indication he would consider accepting if invited again the following year

Von Holst was one of the foremost European scholars interpreting American political history in the 19th century. This letter captures:

• The transatlantic academic relationship between Europe and the United States
• The importance of primary source access in historical scholarship
• The growing prestige of American institutions like the Lowell Lectures
• Internal academic obligations and hierarchy within German universities

• Date: February 20, 1887
• Location: Freiburg, Germany
• Author: Hermann Eduard von Holst
• Recipient: Hon. Augustus Lowell
• Format: Period manuscript copy
• Size: Full sheet
• Condition: Good; expected toning, light wear, and handling consistent with age

Ideal for collectors of:

• American history & historiography
• German academic figures
• Lowell Institute / Boston intellectual history
• 19th-century manuscript correspondence