L. MOZART, AUTOGRAPH LETTER TO THE VIENNA PUBLISHER ARTARIA & CO., 8 JULY 1785

discussing the arrangements for sending twelve copies of his Violinschule to Vienna, explaining the method he has chosen to send them, noting that he is offering him each copy at a price of one gulden 45 kreuzer and referring to the profit he can expect to make on each volume, observing that this price only holds for payments in cash which he can make in favour of Lorentz Hagenauer at the Joseph Peisserische Handlung, stressing that not a single copy can be obtained any other way than through him, stating that a confirmatory letter from his son will suffice in place of a reply, and asking him to pass on the enclosed [not included here] straight away to Wolfgang

"...Der ganze Betrag dieser 12 Stück ist also nicht mehr als 21f Corrent. Da sie nun das Stück à 2f 45X^r zu verkauf[en] haben, so gewinn[en] sie an iedem Stück 1 f -: Doch, Nein! es ist etwas weniger, das sie das porto zu tragen haben. Es versteht sich aber von selbst, daß ich diesen Preis nur gegen pare bezahlung mache, die sie in die Joseph Peisserische Handlung für Rechnung H: Lorentz Hagenauer in Salzb[urg] zu entricht[en] belieb[en] wollen: da wirkl:[lich] nicht ein einziges Stück dermal anderswo, als bey mir zu hab[en] ist. Da ich weis wie kostbar einem Negozianten die Zeit ist, so will, wenn sie so zufried[en] sind, sie zu keinem Antwort=schreib[en] auffordern, sond[ern] die gemachte Bezahlung an die Peisser[ische] Handlung, als eine Antwort anseh[e], und das übrige durch ein schreib[en] von meinem Sohn allenfals erwart[e]. Übrigens grüße sie durch die uns bekannte Zahl und bin ohnabändlich dero ergebenster B[ruder]..."



 



2 pages, 4to (22.9 x 18.9cm), C & I Honig paper, integral autograph address-leaf, docketed by the recipient ("Mozart ... Beantw. d. 22.^t 8.^bre 1785"), postmarked "Salzburg", papered seal, seal tear, Salzburg, 8 July 5785 [i.e. 1785 + 4000, the number of years since the creation], light browning to address panel, some creasing to folds

Mozart. Briefe und Aufzeichnungen. Gesamtausgabe, viii (2006), No.872a; Manfred Hermann Schmid, 'Ein freimaurerischer Geschäftsbrief von Leopold Mozart zur Violinschule, Mozart-Studien, v (1995), pp.213-223;

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

RARE. We have not traced at auction a letter by Leopold Mozart alone during the last twenty-five years. A splendid letter concerning Leopold's famous treatise on violin playing, the Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule, which was first published by Lotter of Augsburg in 1756, the year of Wolfgang's birth. Only five letters by Leopold to the firm of Artaria are recorded (of which the present letter is the first; the last dates from March 1786), but only one other is known to survive in autograph.

The particular member of the famous publishing family of Artaria to whom Leopold addressed his letter was, as Manfred Hermann Schmid has noted, Pasquale (1755-1786), who was the only Freemason in his family, and indeed a member of the same lodge to which Leopold had been admitted during his visit to Vienna earlier in 1785 (11 February to 25 April). There are numerous masonic features of the letter, including the two interlocking triangles (symbols of freemasonry) appended to Leopold's manu propria.