Goethe-Era Greeting Cards Surface in Frankfurt Exhibit

Frankfurt lawyer Andreas Dietzel donated a collection of movable greeting cards from around 1800 to the Deutsches Romantik-Museum, where they are now on display in the exhibit "Vergnügen durch Verwandlung." Dietzel, formerly the Germany head of Clifford Chance and current chairman of the supervisory board of the Freies Deutsches Hochstift, assembled the collection over years, recognizing the cards as reflections of daily life, customs, and human desires. The cards, popular around New Year’s, a more significant social event than Christmas at the time, feature intricate mechanisms like flaps, pulls, and rotating elements.

The invention of these “mechanical billets” coincided with the rise of literary Romanticism in the late 18th century, offering amusement and subtle confessions. Crafted by women, children, and war invalids, the cards reveal insights into the social realities of the era.

Dietzel’s collection, begun in the 1980s, includes cards once received by Goethe himself, adding a personal touch to the historical display. The Deutsches Romantik-Museum is also planning a renovation of the Goethe House by 2032, timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of Goethe’s death, and will begin a fundraising campaign after the summer.