Adler Alfred

Alfred Adler, Austrian Psychologist, WWI Doctor & Visiting Professor at Columbia University

Two postcards in German inscribed overall and 3x signed by Austrian psychologist Dr. Alfred Adler (1870-1937). The lot is comprised of an autograph letter signed and an autograph note signed. The first postcard is partly dated November 10 and was mailed from the Eastern Front sometime during World War I, and is signed as "Adler" and as "DAdler". The second postcard dated November 2, 1929 is signed "Dr. Alfred Adler". Condition issues are described below. A full English translation and transcript is provided.

The lot consists of:

1. A "Feldpostkorrespondenzkarte", or "Armed Forces Postal Service Correspondence Card" inscribed with about 90 words in Adler's hand and signed "Adler" at bottom right verso. Also signed by Adler as "DAdler" in the sender's section at left recto. The double-sided partly printed postcard bears several stamped philatelic markings, and has a central vertical fold. Very good. 5.5" x 3.625".

Dr. Adler was drafted as a military physician into the Austro-Hungarian Army in 1916 and served on the Eastern Front in Krakow, Poland. He sent this postcard from there sometime between 1916 and 1918, when he was discharged from the service. His correspondent was a certain Dr. Krausz who lived or worked in the Grinsing district of Vienna.

Translated in part:

"10/XI. We have been sitting here in a foreign land far away for 14 days now and never know what tomorrow will bring. How are you all? We have good food, to be sure, but no possibility of planning it. I hope you have it better.


I'm a bit thin for the time being. But as far as my health is concerned, all ok. ---- …

Sending my best wishes to all. Every other person knows [illegible]


What is he doing? But are you friends? How is he and his family?


Warmest wishes to you all


Adler".

2. A postcard announcing Adler's upcoming lecture at Columbia University inscribed with about 20 words in Adler's hand, and signed "Dr. Alfred Adler" at bottom verso. Torn along a central horizontal fold but repaired with tape. With preprinted Thomas Jefferson 1 cent stamp. Very good.

Translated in part:

"E. W.


I can recommend Dr E O Krauz­ as one of my best psychologists and members of pedagogical staff.


New York 2/XI/1929


Dr Alfred Adler".

The announcement recto reads in part: "Columbia University in the City of New York, University Extension and School of Medicine, Announcing A Clinic in Individual Psychology By Dr. Alfred Adler of Vienna For the Treatment of Psychoneurotic Patients … Physicians, psychologists, teachers, and the qualified public may attend the discussions without charge."

Alfred Adler was a graduate of the University of Vienna. As a student and later as a doctor, Adler rubbed shoulders with the city's most famous resident psychologist, Sigmund Freud. Adler attended Freud's "Wednesday Society" meetings, where members debated the controversies of contemporary psychological study. Adler left the group in 1911, and later diverged from Freud's interpretation of sexual vs. aggressive drives, among other things. Adler thus became one of the first to contest Freud's establishment theories in a move that would anticipate the severance between Freud and Carl Jung in 1914.

One of Adler's major contributions to the field of psychology was the theory of "Individual Psychology", the very subject of his Columbia University lecture here advertised. This theory maintained that many factors contributed to forming distinctive individual personalities and neuroses, chief among them the community and human relationships. Adler advocated that therapy should acknowledge and embrace these same interconnections. In this way, Adler's theories endorse a holistic approach. Adler's research also produced our modern understanding of the "inferiority complex."

Adler lectured extensively in Europe and the United States during the last decades of his life. He became a visiting professor at New York's Columbia University after 1927.

Adler's postcard recipient was Dr. Otto Erwin Kraus (alternately spelled as Krausz). Kraus was a PhD in Psychology and an early proponent of Adlerian psychology who emigrated to Chicago in the 1920s.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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