I just came across this letter by Ludwig von Mises that is up for sale ($1750.00)
The dealer, Abe Books, describes the letter and Mises this way:
A FINE AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED BY LUDWIG von MISES. The letter is on his personal stationery with his name "Prof. Dr. Ludwig v. Mises" printed in raised letters at the left head of the sheet. He writes to an unnamed colleague who he addresses as "Very Honored Doctor". He is responding to a letter from the writer (not present) who is at the University of Salzburg in which he asks Mises about the possibility of lecturing in Geneva in 1937/8. Mises replies that he has discussed this with Professor Rappard [William Rappard Professor of Economic History at the University of Geneva] and "unfortunately the program of lectures is already completely fixed for 1937/8". He hopes that they may be able to get together during a forthcoming holiday Mises has planned in the Salzburg region. An elegantly written, legible letter in German by this twentieth century economic icon. Letters of Ludwig von Mises are quite scarce. Ludwig E. von Mises (1881-1973) was one of the last representatives of the "Austrian School" of economics. This group showed many signs of being eclipsed in the 1930s but, beginning largely in the 1970s, has enjoyed a remarkable rebirth with Mises as their 'patron saint'. Inspired by Mises, these new Austrians reject general equilibrium theory, mathematical economics, econometrics and economic forecasting for purposes of managing the economy. Mises himself was the model of an economic liberal. Among his most important ideas were: 1. total socialism operates at a very low level of efficiency; 2. Only a market system, or an exchange system based on private ownership of the means of production, can provide the means of achieving a rational allocation of capital goods to their most productive uses and 3. Any intervention into the market exchange process leads to a deterioration of economic welfare. These three concepts formed the bases of much of his later work. Our recent economic turmoil once again ignites the market regulation-intervention debate. (see Blaug, Great Economists Since Keynes pps. 195-197). Bookseller Inventory # 41604
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