Lots 1–199 will begin closing from 11am GMT on 14 December. Lots 200–365 will begin closing from 11am GMT on 15 December.

Event Date1–15 DEC 2023 | Online 22135

The Alphabet of Genius: Important Autograph Letters and Manuscripts

London
Session Times
Closed 
Sale Total GBP 3,275,622

1–15 DEC 2023

Closed: 15 Dec 2023
Closed: 15 Dec 2023
Filters
  • Lot 200

    Album of autograph music

    Album containing autograph music by Verdi, Bellini, Liszt, Rossini, Donizetti and others, [1823]-1890

    EstimateGBP 7,000 - 10,000
    Price realisedGBP 16,380
    Closed 
  • Lot 201

    Serge Diaghilev (1872-1929) and Gabriel Astruc (1864-1938)

    Contract signed by Serge Diaghilev and Gabriel Astruc, Paris, 21 June 1913

    EstimateGBP 1,000 - 1,500
    Price realisedGBP 1,386
    Closed 
  • Lot 202

    [Circle of Beethoven and Mozart – Johann Andreas Streicher (1761-1833)]

    Collection of letters by members of Beethoven and Mozart's circle addressed to the Viennese piano maker Andreas Streicher, 1801-1813 and n.d.

    EstimateGBP 9,000 - 12,000
    Price realisedGBP 10,710
    Closed 
  • Lot 203

    [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)] – Thomas Attwood (1765-1838)

    Autograph manuscript account by Attwood of his time spent with Mozart in Vienna in June 1785, n.d. [?1820s]

    EstimateGBP 10,000 - 15,000
    Price realisedGBP 11,970
    Closed 
  • Lot 204

    Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

    Autograph letter signed (‘H. Berlioz’) to [Amédée] Méreaux, Paris, 11 September [1855]

    EstimateGBP 1,000 - 1,500
    Price realisedGBP 504
    Closed 
  • Lot 205

    Hector Berlioz (1803-1869)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Hector Berlioz’) to [Carolyne, Princess zu Sayn-Wittgenstein] (‘Princesse’), Paris, 20 February 1858

    EstimateGBP 1,200 - 1,800
    Price realisedGBP 1,008
    Closed 
  • Lot 206

    Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)

    Autograph music manuscript signed (at end, 'Ernest Bloch') for an addition to his opera Macbeth, 1938

    EstimateGBP 1,000 - 1,500
    Price realisedGBP 630
    Closed 
  • Lot 207

    Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)

    Autograph music manuscript signed of the Second String Quartet, Agate Beach, Oregon, 28 October 1945

    EstimateGBP 6,000 - 9,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 208

    Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)

    An important correspondence with Ernest Chapman, 1933-1958

    EstimateGBP 8,000 - 12,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 209

    Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)

    Eight autograph letters and postcards signed (some with initials, one in jest as 'Hans Sachs', another as 'Ernest-Hans') to Sylvia Glass (later Goldfrank), New York, San Francisco, Roveredo (Switzerland) and elsewhere, 25 July 1933 - 26 August 1943

    EstimateGBP 1,000 - 1,500
    Price realisedGBP 378
    Closed 
  • Lot 210

    Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

    Autograph manuscript, a thematic catalogue of chamber and orchestral compositions, [c.1796-7]

    EstimateGBP 15,000 - 20,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 211

    Max Bruch (1838-1920)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Max Bruch’) to an unnamed recipient (‘Verehrte Frau’), Freiburg im Breisgau, 22 August 1872

    EstimateGBP 1,000 - 1,500
    Price realisedGBP 504
    Closed 
  • Lot 212

    Max Bruch (1838-1920)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Max Bruch’) to [Kapellmeister Halir of Wiesbaden], Wrocław (‘Breslau’), 25 September 1888

    EstimateGBP 1,000 - 1,500
    Price realisedGBP 630
    Closed 
  • Lot 213

    Hans von Bülow (1830-1894)

    Series of 27 autograph letters signed ('H. v.Bülow') to Dr Carl Gille, Berlin, Munich and elsewhere, 18 November [1863] - 30 May 1869

    EstimateGBP 5,000 - 8,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 214

    John Cage (1912-1992)

    Autograph music manuscript signed (on title, 'John Cage'), sixth player's part for First Construction (in Metal), Seattle, Washington, November 1939

    EstimateGBP 7,000 - 10,000
    Price realisedGBP 8,190
    Closed 
  • Lot 215

    John Cage (1912-1992)

    Autograph manuscripts comprising the complete draft of 'Diary: How to Improve the World (You Will Only Make Matters Worse) Continued, 1970-71', fair copy of 'Mureau', and two related texts, [c.1970-71]

    EstimateGBP 10,000 - 15,000
    Price realisedGBP 11,970
    Closed 
  • Lot 216

    Luigi Cherubini (1760-1842)

    Autograph letter signed (‘L. Cherubini’) to [Jean-Baptiste-Roger Fauchon] D’Henneville, Montlignon, 26 September [1835]

    EstimateGBP 2,000 - 3,000
    Price realisedGBP 504
    Closed 
  • Lot 217

    Claude Debussy (1862-1918)

    Autograph letter signed ('Claude Debussy') to [Lorenzo Parodi], 80, avenue du Bois de Boulogne, Paris, 17 February 1910

    EstimateGBP 2,500 - 3,500
    Closed 
  • Lot 218

    Frederick Delius (1862-1934)

    Autograph music manuscript, sketches for 'Brigg Fair', 'Hassan' and the Sonata no.1 for violin and piano, [c.1905]

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Price realisedGBP 3,528
    Closed 
  • Lot 219

    Frederick Delius (1862-1934)

    Autograph letter and postcard signed (‘Frederick Delius’) to [Harry Waldo] Warner, Grez-sur-Loing, 23 December 1916 and n.d.

    EstimateGBP 1,500 - 2,000
    Price realisedGBP 1,890
    Closed 
  • Lot 220

    Arnold Dolmetsch (1848-1940)

    Series of 31 autograph letters signed ('Arnold Dolmetsch') to Herbert Percy Horne, London, 19 June [1890] - 20 July 1899 and 8 May - 6 June 1914

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Price realisedGBP 3,528
    Closed 
  • Lot 221

    Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848), Giovanni Battista Rubini (1794-1853), Gaspare Spontini (1774-1851) and others

    Album containing autograph musical quotations and complete works by composers and performers of the early 19th century, including dedications and inscriptions

    EstimateGBP 15,000 - 20,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 222

    Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)

    Autograph letter signed ('Donizetti') to Giovanni Ricordi, [Rome], 1 August 1833

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 223

    Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

    Autograph music manuscript of Elgar's orchestration of Henry Purcell's motet 'Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes', dated at end 26 June 1929, with an annotated proof, first edition and autograph letter signed

    EstimateGBP 20,000 - 30,000
    Price realisedGBP 23,940
    Closed 
  • Lot 224

    Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)

    Scribal music manuscript, signed by Falla and inscribed with an autograph quotation, of the ‘Danza ritual del Fuego’ from El amor brujo, [c.1939]

    EstimateGBP 2,500 - 3,500
    Price realisedGBP 4,788
    Closed 
  • Lot 225

    George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) and others

    Manuscript of c.80 Italian arias, [Italy], [c.1700-1707], with an autograph annotation by Handel

    EstimateGBP 30,000 - 50,000
    Price realisedGBP 37,800
    Closed 
  • Lot 226

    Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

    Dr. Haydn's VI Original Canzonettas for the Voice with an Accompaniment for the Piano-Forte. London: for the Author & Sold by him at No.1 Bury Street, St James's, [c.1794].

    EstimateGBP 4,000 - 6,000
    Price realisedGBP 4,788
    Closed 
  • Lot 227

    Fanny Mendelssohn (later Hensel, 1805-1847)

    Autograph letter (unsigned) to her mother Lea, incorporating a drawing and an autograph manuscript song, Rome, 15 March 1840

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Price realisedGBP 11,340
    Closed 
  • Lot 228

    Jenny Lind (1820-1887)

    Nine autograph letters signed (‘Jenny’, ‘Jenny Lind’ and ‘Jenny Goldschmidt’) to Jacob-Axel Josephson, Berlin, Paris, Stockholm, Vienna, Darnstadt, Karlsruhe and Wiesbaden, 1840-1863

    EstimateGBP 1,500 - 2,000
    Price realisedGBP 2,772
    Closed 
  • Lot 229

    Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

    Autograph music manuscript 'signed' of the symphonic poem Hungaria, arranged for two pianos, [c.1855-56]

    EstimateGBP 8,000 - 12,000
    Price realisedGBP 23,940
    Closed 
  • Lot 230

    Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

    Autograph letter signed (‘F. Liszt’) to an unnamed journal editor, n.p., n.d. [c.1833]

    EstimateGBP 1,000 - 1,500
    Price realisedGBP 2,016
    Closed 
  • Lot 231

    Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

    Autograph letter signed ('F. Liszt') to [Hector] Berlioz, Eiken, 20 August 1851

    EstimateGBP 4,000 - 6,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 232

    Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

    Autograph letter signed (‘F. Liszt’) to Eduard Liszt, Rome, 19 November 1862

    EstimateGBP 2,000 - 3,000
    Price realisedGBP 2,142
    Closed 
  • Lot 233

    Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

    Symphonische Dichtungen für grosses Orchester ... 'Les Préludes', Leipzig: Breitkopf and Härtel, [1856], inscribed and signed ('F. Liszt')

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Price realisedGBP 3,528
    Closed 
  • Lot 234

    Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

    Autograph music manuscript, a working manuscript for the song ‘Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder’, n.p. [Maiernigg, Austria], n.d. [June 1901]

    EstimateGBP 100,000 - 150,000
    Price realisedGBP 107,100
    Closed 
  • Lot 235

    Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Gustav Mahler’) to Emil [Freund], [Vienna, 1 November 1880]

    EstimateGBP 6,000 - 9,000
    Price realisedGBP 16,380
    Closed 
  • Lot 236

    Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Gustav’) to [Alma Schindler: ‘Liebste!’], n.p. [Vienna], n.d. [9 December 1901]

    EstimateGBP 7,000 - 10,000
    Price realisedGBP 23,940
    Closed 
  • Lot 237

    Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

    Autograph letter signed (Gustav Mahler’) to [C.M.] Schröder (‘Sehr geehrter Herr!‘), [Vienna, 1 October 1907]

    EstimateGBP 5,000 - 8,000
    Price realisedGBP 6,048
    Closed 
  • Lot 238

    Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Gustav Mahler’) to [Guido Adler: ‘Lieber Freund‘], New York, 1 January 1910

    EstimateGBP 9,000 - 12,000
    Price realisedGBP 10,710
    Closed 
  • Lot 239

    Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Gust. Mahler’) to Emil [Freund], n.p. [probably New York], n.d. [early 1910]

    EstimateGBP 6,000 - 9,000
    Price realisedGBP 6,930
    Closed 
  • Lot 240

    Gustav Mahler (1860-1911)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Gustav Mahler’) to Emil Freund (‘Lieber Emil!‘), [New York], [postmarked 21 November 1910]

    EstimateGBP 7,000 - 10,000
    Price realisedGBP 10,710
    Closed 
  • Lot 241

    Jules Massenet (1842-1912)

    c.146 autograph letters and cards signed, 1864-1910 and n.d.

    EstimateGBP 8,000 - 12,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 242

    Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)

    Autograph music manuscript signed ('Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy') of the song, 'Tröstung', 4 Hobart Place, [London], 30 August 1846, and pencil drawing of Engelberg in the Canton of Obwalden

    EstimateGBP 20,000 - 30,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 243

    Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’) to his publisher Adolph Martin Schlesinger, n.p. [Berlin], 2 March 1830

    EstimateGBP 2,000 - 3,000
    Price realisedGBP 1,890
    Closed 
  • Lot 244

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

    Autograph letter signed ('W: A: Mozart') to [Martha Elisabeth] Baroness von Waldstätten, [Vienna, shortly before 4 August 1782]

    EstimateGBP 150,000 - 200,000
    Price realisedGBP 226,800
    Closed 
  • Lot 245

    Vincent Novello (1781-1861)

    Autograph letter signed ('V. Novello') to Thomas Attwood, Lincoln’s Inn, 29 October [1828]

    EstimateGBP 1,000 - 1,500
    Price realisedGBP 1,386
    Closed 
  • Lot 246

    Vincent Novello (1781-1861)

    Autograph letter signed (‘V. Novello’) to Thomas Attwood, 67 Frith Street, Soho Square, London, 24 December 1830

    EstimateGBP 1,000 - 1,500
    Price realisedGBP 1,386
    Closed 
  • Lot 247

    Vincent Novello (1781-1861) and others

    Two letterbooks of Edward Rimbault, London, 1840-1855, including series of letters by Novello, John Payne Collier and other musicians and antiquarians

    EstimateGBP 5,000 - 8,000
    Price realisedGBP 6,048
    Closed 
  • Lot 248

    Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Nicolò Paganini’) to Lazzaro Rebizzo, Paris, 17 November 1837

    EstimateGBP 2,000 - 3,000
    Price realisedGBP 4,410
    Closed 
  • Lot 249

    Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

    Collection of autograph music manuscripts for piano (a few for organ), including marches, waltzes, a collection of dances and other works, one of them signed ('Giacomo Puccini'), n.d. [c.1875-1883]

    EstimateGBP 12,000 - 18,000
    Price realisedGBP 13,860
    Closed 
  • Lot 250

    Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

    Autograph letter signed (‘G. Puccini’) to Sybil [Seligman], Grand Hotel Quirinale, Rome, 31 January 1909

    EstimateGBP 1,000 - 1,500
    Price realisedGBP 1,134
    Closed 
  • Lot 251

    Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

    Autograph letter signed (‘tuo Giacomo’) to his wife Elvira [Puccini], New York, 12 December 1910

    EstimateGBP 1,000 - 1,500
    Price realisedGBP 3,024
    Closed 
  • Lot 252

    Henry Purcell (1659-1695)

    Orpheus Britannicus. A Collection of all the Choicest Songs for One, Two, and Three Voices. London: J. Heptinstall for Henry Playford, 1698

    EstimateGBP 1,500 - 2,500
    Price realisedGBP 1,512
    Closed 
  • Lot 253

    Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894)

    Autograph music manuscript, the stichvorlage of the 'Etudes' for piano, Op. 23, nos. 1, 3, 4 and 5, [c.1860]

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Price realisedGBP 2,520
    Closed 
  • Lot 254

    Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

    Four autograph letters signed (‘C. Saint-Saëns’) to Franz Liszt (‘Maître’), Paris and Toulouse, 9 June 1881 – 18 April 1884 and n.d.

    EstimateGBP 2,000 - 3,000
    Price realisedGBP 15,120
    Closed 
  • Lot 255

    Andrés Segovia (1893-1987)

    Autograph music manuscripts, a collection of transcriptions and works commissioned by Segovia for the guitar, n.d.

    EstimateGBP 10,000 - 15,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 256

    Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975)

    Eleven autograph letters signed ('D. Shostakovich') to the conductor Samuil Abramovich Samosud, Leningrad and Gaspra (Crimea), 1939 - 1941

    EstimateGBP 10,000 - 15,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 257

    Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (1872-1915)

    Autograph letter signed ('A. Scriabin') to Nikolai Gustavovich [von Struve], n.p., [before 12 January 1911]

    EstimateGBP 2,500 - 3,500
    Closed 
  • Lot 258

    Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

    Three autograph letters signed ('Dr Richard Strauss') to Lotte [Lehmann], Garmisch, 25 December 1924 - 15 November 1928

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Price realisedGBP 3,528
    Closed 
  • Lot 259

    Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

    Autograph letter signed ('G. Verdi') to Francesco Maria Piave, Sant'Agata, 17 August 1852

    EstimateGBP 4,000 - 6,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 260

    Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

    Autograph letter signed ('G. Verdi') to [Carlo] Baucardé, 4, rue Richer, Paris, 16 December 1853

    EstimateGBP 3,500 - 4,500
    Closed 
  • Lot 261

    Richard Wagner (1813-1883) and Franz Liszt (1811-1886)

    Wagner's copy of Beethoven's Symphony No.3 ('Eroica') signed ('Richard Wagner') and inscribed, St Gall, 23 November 1856

    EstimateGBP 10,000 - 15,000
    Price realisedGBP 25,200
    Closed 
  • Lot 262

    Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

    Autograph letter signed ('Richard Wagner') to [Ferdinand] Heine, Meudon, 14 October 1841

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Price realisedGBP 4,032
    Closed 
  • Lot 263

    Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

    Autograph letter signed ('Richard Wagner') to August Röckel, Zurich, 12 September 1852

    EstimateGBP 8,000 - 12,000
    Price realisedGBP 10,080
    Closed 
  • Lot 264

    Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

    Autograph letter signed ('Richard Wagner') to [August Röckel], Zurich, 23 August 1856

    EstimateGBP 5,000 - 8,000
    Price realisedGBP 6,930
    Closed 
  • Lot 265

    Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Rich. Wagner’) to [Heinrich] Szadrowsky, Zurich, 18 November 1856

    EstimateGBP 2,000 - 3,000
    Price realisedGBP 1,512
    Closed 
  • Lot 266

    Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

    Autograph letter signed (with initials, 'R.W.') to [Heinrich Szadrowsky], [Zurich, c. November 1856]

    EstimateGBP 2,500 - 3,500
    Closed 
  • Lot 267

    Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

    Autograph letter signed (with initials, 'R.W.') to [Heinrich Szadrowsky], n.p., n.d. [?Zurich, mid-1850s]

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Price realisedGBP 9,450
    Closed 
  • Lot 268

    Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

    Autograph letter signed ('Richard Wagner') to [Eduard Liszt], Starnberg, 23 May 1864

    EstimateGBP 4,000 - 6,000
    Price realisedGBP 4,788
    Closed 
  • Lot 269

    Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

    Autograph letter signed ('Rich. Wagner') to an unidentified recipient, Munich, 25 May 1865

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Price realisedGBP 3,528
    Closed 
  • Lot 270

    Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

    Autograph letter signed ('Richard Wagner') to Dr [Theodor Kafka], Lucerne, 7 December 1871

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Price realisedGBP 3,528
    Closed 
  • Lot 271

    Richard Wagner (1813-1883)

    Autograph letter signed ('Richard Wagner') to [Maria Theresia Löw], Bayreuth, 26 May 1872

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Price realisedGBP 3,528
    Closed 
  • Lot 272

    Anton Webern (1883-1945)

    Autograph letter signed ('A. Webern') to [Hermann] Scherchen, Mödling, Austria, 14 June 1929

    EstimateGBP 1,500 - 2,500
    Price realisedGBP 2,520
    Closed 
  • Lot 273

    French Composers & Artists

    Autograph letters signed by Chavannes, Moreau, Delibes, and Félicien David, to various recipients, 1866-1887

    EstimateGBP 2,000 - 3,000
    Price realisedGBP 504
    Closed 
  • Lot 274

    Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) and Jeremiah Bentham (1712-1792)

    Autograph letters to the 1st Marquess of Lansdowne, 1778-1784

    EstimateGBP 7,000 - 10,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 275

    Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Jeremy Bentham’) to [William Petty], Earl Shelburne [later 1st Marquess of Lansdowne] (‘My Lord’), Lincoln’s Inn, 19 July 1781

    EstimateGBP 5,000 - 8,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 276

    Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

    Autograph letter to [William Petty, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne] (‘My Lord’), Hendon, Middlesex, ‘Tuesday’ 24 August 1790

    EstimateGBP 9,000 - 12,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 277

    Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

    Autograph letter and two autograph manuscripts, 1791

    EstimateGBP 7,000 - 10,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 278

    Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

    Seven autograph letters to [William Petty, the Marquess of Lansdowne], Dover Street and Queen’s Square Place, 20 December 1791- 11 September 1792

    EstimateGBP 10,000 - 15,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 279

    Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

    Three autograph letters to [William Petty, 1st] Marquess of Lansdowne, 1794-1796

    EstimateGBP 6,000 - 9,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 280

    Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

    Letter, document and pamphlet signed and inscribed to the 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne, 11 January 1828

    EstimateGBP 10,000 - 15,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 281

    Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

    Autograph letter signed (‘Jeremy Bentham’) to Sir Charles Bunbury (‘Dear Sir’), Hendon, Middlesex, 31 October 1793

    EstimateGBP 3,000 - 5,000
    Closed 
  • Lot 282

    James Mill (1773-1836) and Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

    Two conjoined autograph letters signed, 7 September 1820

    EstimateGBP 4,000 - 6,000
    Price realisedGBP 4,788
    Closed 
  • Lot 283

    Henri Bergson (1859-1941)

    Series of approx. 106 autograph letters and one autograph postcard signed ('H. Bergson') to Herbert Wildon Carr, mostly Paris, 24 January 1909 - 1 August 1930

    EstimateGBP 7,000 - 10,000
    Price realisedGBP 8,190
    Closed 

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