Account of a Statement Made by Karl Marx to the Cologne Police

Author(s) Karl Marx
Written 19 April 1848


First published in the Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaft No. 3, 1968
Published in English for the first time in Marx-Engels Collected Works, Volume 7
Collection(s): Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaft

The petitioner, the politically unreliable Dr. Karl Marx, was born in Trier on May 5, 1818, lived in Cologne in 1842-43, worked as editor of the Rheinische Zeitung, subsequently he went abroad and from there he obtained the enclosed permission to emigrate, which was issued by his home town Trier,[1] and has therefore lost his Prussian citizenship.

According to his statement he is working on a book on economics which he intends to publish and he proposes to live partly on the proceeds of his writings and partly the personal property of his wife,[2] who, together with their three children,[3] is still staying in Trier. The stamp attached to the application has been cancelled and is duly enclosed herewith.

Cologne, April 19, 1848

Hünermund,

Police Inspector

  1. ↑ This document is not included among those kept in the police archives, connected with granting Marx Prussian citizenship. Apparently it was given back to Marx.
  2. ↑ Jenny Marx.— Ed.
  3. ↑ Their daughters Jenny and Laura and their son Edgar.— Ed.