Verdi, Giuseppe

written to the impresario Alessandro Lanari at Florence, about the performing materials for Macbeth, in which he explains that Lanari does not have to worry about having these copied himself, since his publisher Ricordi will provide the manuscript score and parts for the première; all Lanari has to do is return the score and parts to Ricordi afterwards and, if he wants to have his own copies of the performing parts, then he will have to write to him authorizing him to have his score copied by Ricordi, because he does not himself have a contract with the publisher for this

2 pages, 8vo (c.13 x 20.5cm), integral autograph address panel, post-marked, annotated by the recipient on the blank 3rd page, typed transcription, Milan, 2 November 1846, tiny holes affecting one word

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."

...Tu non devi spendere niente, tu ti potrai servire dalle parti che Ricordi stesso ti manderebbe, e poi (ben s'intende) rimandare le parti collo spartito a Ricordi istesso come di sua proprietà.  Ma per far questo è necessario che io sia autorizzato di dare il mio spartito a Ricordi perchè io non ho contratto con Lui. Se tu poi vorrai una copia...è necessario che tu mi scriva una lettera autorizzandomi di dare da copiare il mio spartito a Ricordi...

Apparently unpublished: not recorded in D. Rosen & A. Porter, Verdi's 'Macbeth' A Sourcebook (1984).   This letter reveals much about the way copies of scores and parts were circulated and controlled by Verdi and his publisher in the nineteenth century.  Only vocal scores were printed, so that operas had to be performed from manuscripts copied by the publisher.  Lanari could be excused for being confused by Verdi's statement that he did not have a contract with the publisher and evidently wrote to Ricordi who replied on 16 November, explaining the contractual and copyright situations more completely (see Rosen & Porter, pp.15-17).  Ricordi confirms Verdi's statement that the manuscript full score has to be returned; in this way both publisher and composer were in a position to restrict performances to approved opera houses.