Letter of Recommendation, Handwritten and Signed by the Chatam Sofer - with Blessings for a Good Year and "Health ...

Letter of Recommendation, Handwritten and Signed by the Chatam Sofer - with Blessings for a Good Year and "Health, Children and Livelihood"
Letter of recommendation handwritten and signed by R. Moshe Sofer, author of the "Chatam Sofer". Pressburg (Bratislava). Elul, 1824.
Approximately 17 lines handwritten and signed by the Chatam Sofer ["Moshe Sofer of Frankfurt am Main"].
This letter of recommendation was sent to the philanthropist "R. Isaac Hoffman, director of the Jewish community in the capital city of Vienna" on behalf of the community of Vrbovce, Slovakia, near Senica. Vrbovce was damaged by fire, and the letter requests assistance in rebuilding the synagogue that was completely destroyed by the fire.
The letter is warm and heartfelt, with blessings heaped on the recipients - the Viennese community. The letter opens with blessings for a good new year filled with health, children and livelihood: "…May you be inscribed in G-d’s books for a good new year, one of life, children and livelihood…". Further blessings are added at the end of the letter: "May G-d listen to you and your prayers on the upcoming holy days, so that you may be immediately sealed for a good life…".
At the beginning of the letter, the Chatam Sofer apologizes for his request, and explains that he deviated from his usual custom in order to help rebuild the synagogue, as he usually would not request assistance except for the ill: "It is not my usual practice to send letters that tax the already overburdened philanthropists, except for the ill and broken, for in that case G-d has explicitly stated that He will doubly bless those who give - but in this case… I felt the need to request assistance in the building of the synagogue…".
The letter and a picture of it are printed in "Igrot Sofrim", Vienna, 1929, part II (letters of the Chatam Sofer), p. 104.
[1] leaf (folded in half), 23 cm. Good condition. Slight staining. Folding marks.