Lot 180
Frank, Otto -- Anne Frank's Father Talks About How Her Diary Was Saved (1889-1980) Father of Anne and Margot Frank; the sole member of his family to survive the Holocaust. Typed letter signed, "Otto Frank,'"one page, 11½ x 8¼", Birsfelden Switzerland, Oct. 24, 1979. To Stephen H. Rugg, Long Island, New York. Mr. Frank says he is 90 years old and not in good health and doesn't answer letters at length anymore, but he is making an exception because of Mr. Rugg's great interest in Anne and the fate of his family and friends. He mentions the Anne Frank Foundation, the play and the film about Anne, both of which he read but did not see. He describes his life after his return from the concentration camp and the reasons for his move to Switzerland in 1952, then describes how Anne's diary was saved: "Anne kept her manuscripts in my port-folio. When the Gestapo came to arrest us, they took it, through [sic] all the books and papers on the floor and put valuables in it which they took along. My 2 secretaries who had help[ed] us during our hiding, went up to the attic they found everything scattered on the floor and recognizing Anne's hand-writing, collected the books etc. and took them along. After my return and after we had heard that Anne and my family would not come back. Miep gave me Anne's Diary. Of course I saw Anne writing in her Diary sometimes. I had no idea that Anne had such deep thoughts and feelings as she showed her inner self to nobody as she writes herself. In school Anne was an average student, but we had noticed that she had a very special gift of observation. About 6 weeks after my return I heard that my children had died in Bergen-Belsen…." Slight creasing at upper edge, lower edge is folded, else fine. The letter is accompanied by a check made out to Otto Frank for $5.oo, endorsed by Frank on verso; as well as six snapshots Mr. Rugg had taken in Amsterdam of the Anne Frank House, inside and out, plus one of a synagogue, all signed by Otto Frank. Estimate Value $1,000 - UP
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| Realized $3,625 |
