Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von (1749-1832) - Document signed

German writer, scientist, and philosopher who takes a place among the central intellectual and artistic figures of his day. 

Document signed “Goethe”. 1p., 8.0 x 13.25 inch, Weimar 1780 October 13. Goethe as chairman of the “Fürstl: Sächs.: Kriegs-Commission”, signs a discharge certificate for a recruit. In German, in full: “Dem Stadt Rathe, hierselbst, wird andurch nachrichtlich bekannt gemacht, daß von fürstl. Sächs. Kriegs-Commißion allh. (ier) auf geziemendes Nachsuchen, die gänzlich Entlaßung des Recruten Johann Friedrich Meißner, allh. von seinem zeitherigen Militar Engagement resolviret und selbigem der Laufpaß bereits abgenommen worden; es hat demnach Eingangs bemeldter Stadt-Rath genannten Meißner in der Recruten-Liste zu deliren“. Countersigned „von Volgstaedt”. Bottom left a note in unknown hand “583./ praes. d. 18. Octbrs. 1780” and a second note “Goethe signature”. From 1777, Goethe's official activities extended to the renewal of the Ilmenau mining industry and from 1779 to the chairmanship of two permanent commissions, the road construction commission and the war commission (Kriegs-Commission), with responsibility for recruiting recruits for the Weimar army. Left edge slightly trimmed, mailing fold, minor paper loss lower right edge, handling wear, else good condition.