Wagner, Richard.

to the owner of the villa [Colonel Walter Am Rhyn], telling him that unfortunately he has had to dismiss his groom Jost ("den sonderbaren Kauz"), which his landlord had let him have, because of his unhelpfulness and unfriendliness to all his family, admitting that he has sometimes been sent into town on difficult errands in inclement weather, and that maybe in future a bit more money should be spent to ensure that horse and trap are kept in order, when he renews his tenancy ("...Als ich nun aber heute in die Stadt fahern will, wiegert er sich ganz einfach, weder mit dem Schlitten noch mit dem Wagen meinem Willen nachzukommen: ich schwieg, ging mit grosser Beschwerde zu Fuss..."),



4 pages, 8vo (c.21 x 13.5cms), [Tribschen] Lucerne, 26 January 1867, some splitting at folds

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."

Wagner's six-year residence at Tribschen, just outside Lucerne, in a villa owned by the Am Rhyn family, was arguably the happiest and most productive of his entire life.  He was completing full score of the last act of Die Meistersinger at the time of this letter, and went on to compose Siegfried, the Siegfried Idyll and Götterdämmerung there.