Mozart, Franz Xaver Wolfgang ('Wolfgang Amadeus', son of W. A. Mozart.).

thanking his friend for obtaining a passport for him and stating that he hopes to visit him in Vienna at the end of May, confirming his return of a concerto lent to him by Fuchs, regretting that he is unable to give him his father's musical fragments, since they are the only part of the inheritance which he still possesses ("...Sie können es mir gewiss nicht übel nehmen, wenn Sie bedenken wollen, dass dies das einzige Erbtheil ist, was ich von meinem Vater besitze..."), observing that he would only part with them for a considerable sum, adding that should a wealthy admirer pay him well he may have them, but he would certainly take copies so as to ensure that he could not claim them as products of his own creativity; in the closing portion of the letter, Wolfgang Amadeus junior congratulates him on the recent addition to his family and sends him good wishes also from 'Casa Baroni', 2 pages, 4to (26.8 x 21.8cm), integral autograph address panel, seal, together with a one-page typed description of the letter, Lemburg [Lvov], 10 March 1837, seal tear, small seal stain, light browning [Kinsky 45, where the letter is dated '1839']



A touching letter from Mozart's youngest son Franz Xaver (1791-1844) to the great Viennese music collector Aloys Fuchs (1799-1853), about his musical inheritance.

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."

Franz Xaver's important collection of Mozart fragments were regarded by him and earlier by Constanze  as a 'usable' and valuable resource; some sixty were later bequeathed by him to the Mozarteum in Salzburg. Other important autographs of his father's letters in his possession became the property of his residuary legatee Josephine Baroni-Cavalcabò, from whom they also later passed to the Mozarteum. In 1838 Wolfgang Amadeus junior left Lemburg, where he had lived for many years, to settle in Vienna. Formerly in the Louis Koch Collection. Published only in extract in Briefe, iv (1963) no.1459, p.514.