Leopardi, Giacomo

to the publisher Antonio Stella in Milan, requesting that if his Operette morali cannot be included complete in the next issue of Il Raccoglitore then the manuscript should be returned to him as soon as possible, so as to allow him to have it published elsewhere, rather than have a work that caused him so much effort, be issued as mere occasional pieces of ephemera; Leopardi adds that he cannot make any comment on the Notes on Cicero that he was going to be sent, as he has not got the Ciceronian text that the Notes refer to, and that he is also awaiting the proofs of his commentary on Petrarch's Rime

1 page, 8vo (c.18.5 x 12cm), autograph address on verso, small annotation by the receipient, Bologna, 31 May 1826, small seal tear, a little worn, slight see-through

F. Flora, Tutte le opere di Giacomo Leopardi, volume 5 (1949), no.453.

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."

...Se a far passare costì le Operette morali non v' è altro mezzo che stamparle nel Raccoglitore, assolutamente e istantemente la prego ad aver la bontà di rimandarmi il ms. al più presto possibile.  O potrò pubblicarle altrove, o preferisco il tenerla sempre inedite al dispiacer di vedere un' opera che mi costa fatiche infinite, pubblicata a brani in un Giornale, come le opere di un momento, e fatte per durare altrettanto...

Between the years 1823 and 1828, Leopardi composed his most important prose work, the Operette morali; in its final form, it comprises 24 innovative dialogues and fictional essays treating a variety of philosophical themes.  The celebrated periodical Il raccoglitore, ossia Arcivj di viaggi, e filosofia, was published in Milan from 1819 to 1847.  During the years 1826-1828, Leopardi sent all his works to Stella for publication, beginning with his book Rime di Francesco Petrarca: colla interpretazione composta dal conte Giacomo Leopardi (1826).