[MEISSNER OTTO]: (1880-1953) German civil servant, Chief of the Presidential Chancellery ...

[MEISSNER OTTO]: (1880-1953) German civil servant, Chief of the Presidential Chancellery 1920-45. An unusual T.L.S., Ernst Folz, by Dr. Ernst Folz, legal adviser to the Head Association of the German Retail Trade, one page, 4to, Berlin, 13th March 1930, to Otto Meissner, in German. Folz writes on the occasion of Meissner's 50th birthday, in full, 'Silence! We shall sing the first official song - no.586, on page 365, ''You are exactly 50 years old''. Silence! The song rings out! ''You are exactly 50 years old/ Have lived through many a storm/ Since he has just come so far/ A dram can only cheer him/ We must rasp it out in full'' Silence! The beautiful song ends. We shall rub a thunderous toast, in the manner of our company, to the health of the 50 year old! On with the toast! 123, 1 ---- 2 ---- 3 ---- 123 ----123! Silence - toast finished. A very good health to the singers! The house chorus marches off to the beat of the beautiful song ''I'm no captain, I'm no big shot….'' With best wishes and respects, to your dear wife also, and from my wife too'. Four file holes to the left edge, not affecting the text or signature, VG

The present letter is cast in the form of an imaginary, and deliberately comic, celebration of Meissner's landmark birthday by a students' drinking club, although clearly from one friend to another. It makes use, together with some rather bogus Latin, of terms drawn from the practice of such clubs. The drinking of a toast was preceded by the noisy rubbing of tankards on tables, and the numbers ('123' etc.) presumably represent the rhythm of such a noise as given out by a leader.