Some unpublished documents and unusual portraits of Anton von Tröltsch (1828-1890), one of the founders of this journal.

Abstract

Anton Friedrich Baron von Tröltsch (1829-1890) was a very famous German otologist in Würzburg in the second part of the 19th century. The aim of this study is to present some unpublished documents related to his biography: a 4-page autobiographical unsigned text probably written for his habilitation in 1861, a 4-page autobiographical letter sent by von Tröltsch to the editors of the Brockhaus-Conversations-Lexikon in 1872, a unique album of portraits of the main otologists of the second part of the 19th century, collected for his 1886 Privat Docent jubilee anniversary, and a portrait of unknown origin. They are discussed with other unusual portraits. These new documents demonstrate at least two major points. One, von Tröltsch was aware of his qualities and the importance of his work in otology but he was not boastful. Two, he was really loved and respected by its colleagues, nearly 150 of them came just for a one-day ovation in Würzburg for his 25th Privat Docent Jubilee and his retirement from his otological practice. Von Tröltsch was and remains an example for all otologists.