Schumann, Robert.

signed and inscribed by Schumann ("An Mlle Pauline Garcia...Fuer Erinnerung an Robert Schumann...Eusebius"), elegantly notated in black ink on three two-stave systems, with dedication and final inscription, dated by the composer "8ten August 1838", 1 page, oblong 8vo (c.14 x 22.7cms), on a printed album-leaf, 9-stave paper,  the lower staves of the page cut away

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."

This manuscript of the original version of Schumann's well-known piano piece from Bunte Blätter is hitherto unrecorded.   It is evidently Schumann's autograph of the album-leaf composed for Pauline Garcia-Viardot's album ("...In Pauline Garcia's Stammbuch/August 1838"); it is recorded by the composer in the final version, found in the collected manuscript "Brautbuch", now in Zwickau .  Of particular interest is Schumann's identification of the piece with his introspective alter-ego, "Eusebius".  The piece is shorter and simpler than the final version, omitting the second repeat, and containing many significant differences to notes, decorations and tempo.  The penultimate bar is here marked "stringendo" and "Rit" (and not "zurückhaltend", as in the definitive version).  There seems to be no other early autograph manuscript of this piece.

Pauline Garcia (1821-1920) was to become arguably the greatest mezzo-soprano of the nineteenth century.  Aged eighteen she met Robert and Clara Schumann in Leipzig in 1838, when Schumann published one of her songs in the Neue Zeitschrift für Musik.  This manuscript predates her professional début in London and Paris in 1839.  Pauline, the daughter of Manuel Garcia and sister of Maria Malibran, married Louis Viardot in 1840.