Paganini, Niccolò

discussing changes he has made to his Guitar Quartet no.14 in A major (MS.41), dedicated to Germi, responding to his complaint about the exhausting Finale, explaining that he has written another and incorporated a long Minuet, asking if he has received another quartet and his opinion about its part-writing and assuring him that he is writing out those for the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth quartets; Paganini tells Germi of his preparations for concerts, complains about his infrequent letters, exchanges news about dysentery in Genoa, asks after his mother and requests his assistance in making sure that she receives her pension, 

..Hai ricevuto il Quartetto? Dimmi se ti pare istrumentato mediocremente: avrai trovato un poco fatticoso il Finale del quattordici, ed io te ne ho scritto un' altro che non ti dispiacerà, e vi troverai un minuetto di sett[ece]nto, e più battute---trovandomi ancora un poco resentito non posso molto applicarmi, ma adagio adagio vado strumentando L'undici, il dodici e il tredici, che te spedirò appena saranno terminati...



1 page, 4to (c.26 x 20.5cm), autograph address on verso, passages underlined in pencil and annotated by the recipient on verso, Palermo, 14 December 1819, thin paper with some show-through, remains of red seal with seal-tears affecting a few words; together with a note of reply from another letter, on a slip of paper (1840)   

Niccolò Paganini, Epistolario, volume 1: 1810-1831, edited by R Grisley, (2006), no. 85.  The present transcription differs slightly from the Epistolario, where "settecento" is given as "settanta".   

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."

Rare: this is a letter by Paganini about specific works, his fifteen quartets for violin, viola, guitar, and cello.  The first six pieces were published by Ricordi in 1820 as his opus 4 and opus 5; Quartet no.14 "espressamente composto, e dedicato" to Germi, remained in manuscript until 1980.  There are four movements: 'Allegro maestoso" in A, 'Minuetto scherzo' in A,  'Largo con sentimento' in G-flat major, and a 'Finale Allegro vivace', a demanding moto perpetuo in A.