Turgenev, Ivan

a lively, playful letter, concerning the return of a manuscript, asking his correspondent to go to Dohm and ask him to hand it over, whether complete or incomplete, telling him that he knows that he claims to have sent him the manuscript, which is untrue, as is his assertion to have sent it to Madame Viardot, expressing his view that Dohm has not written a word of the translation, although he still hopes to, noting that it would be too awful if he destroyed it in the fire, requesting him at first to send it immediately to Viardot in Paris, then asking him instead to telegraph him when he has it and then to await his reply, observing that the whole musical future of 'Luise' depends on him and is hanging by a thread; in a postscript, Turgenev informs him that in ten days he will be in Berlin, journeying afterwards to Russia, in order to rescue something of the inheritance from his 'poor brother' who has just died ("...Ich weiss - er behauptet - das Manuscript abgeschickt zu haben; das ist aber nicht wahr - ebensowenig, wie die Behauptung - er hätte an Fr. Viardot geschrieben...")

3 pages, 8vo, printed stationery with Turgenev's monogram ("IT"), some autograph deletions, Paris, 50, rue de Douai, Wednesday, 29 January 1879, tiny tear to second leaf, not affecting text

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."

A good letter written shortly before Turgenev's triumphal 1879 visit to Russia. The 'Luise' mentioned by Turgenev appears to be the singer and composer Louise Héritte-Viardot (1841-1918), daughter of Turgenev's great love, the singer Pauline Viardot-Garcia. Louise's comic opera Lindoro, with a libretto by the German editor and translator Ernst Dohm (1819-1883), was premiered at Weimar later the same year.