Beethoven, Ludwig van.

with the title by Beethoven ("Quittung"), in which he acknowledges receipt of six hundred florins from Kinsky's treasury, to cover the period between 1 April and 1 September 1817, in which the composer initially specifies the wrong periods and subsequently deletes and corrects the names of the months ("...in Folge des...Standrechtlichen Dekrets des 18 Jänner 1815 an Unterhaltungsbeytrag seit oktober [corrected to: "april"] [1] 817 bis letzten März 818 [corrected to: September [1]817]..."),



1 folio leaf (c.36 x 21.5cms), witnessed in another hand at the foot of the page, extending onto the top of the verso, papered seal, two neat stamps at head of the recto and another on the verso of the leaf, 2 pages in all, on a guard, modern quarter calf gilt, some creasing and light browning

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."

Hitherto unpublished: not in Emily Anderson, Kastner-Kapp or V. Kratochvíl 'Beethoven und Fürst Kinsky' in Beethoven-Jahrbuch, (1908-1909).  The relevant volume of the Breifwechsel Gesamtausgabe has yet to appear.

In 1809 Beethoven had been granted an annuity of 1,800 Gulden, sponsored by Prince Ferdinand Kinsky jointly with the Archduke Rudolph and Prince Lobkowitz.   Most of the receipts for Kinsky's allowance to Beethoven are merely signed by the composer, and most of those for this period are lost; so this entirely autograph receipt is exceptional and hitherto unpublished. Beethoven originally made out the document for the incorrect period and the manuscript has been corrected both by him and another hand.  Prince Kinsky had died from a fall from his horse in 1812 and the annuity was suspended.  Payments were eventually resumed after several anxious letters written by the composer to his widow Princess Karoline. It was agreed on 18 January 1815 that the allowance should be paid on a half-yearly basis in the name of Prince Rudolf Kinsky.