W.A. Mozart. First edition of the Piano Concerto no.25 in C. K.503, published by Costanze Mozart, 1797

MOZART, WOLFGANG AMADEUS

Concerto per il Clavicembalo o Piano Forte, [Vienna]: per Costanza Mozart, No.1 del retaggio del defunto publicato alle spese della Vedova [1797]

FIRST EDITION OF THE PIANO CONCERTO IN C, K.503, the complete set of parts for solo piano, Violino Primo, Violino Secondo, Viola, Basso, Flauto, Oboe Primo, Oboe Secondo, Fagotto Primo, Fagotto Secondo, Corno Primo in C, Corno Second in C, Clarino Primo in C, Clarino Secondo in C & Timpani in C. & G; engraved title within a decorative border with a wreath, engraved music without plate number, each part titled "Mozart Concerto No.1" 

15 separate parts, solo piano bound (23 pages), the orchestral parts each on an unbound bifolium (2nd oboe & bassoon, horns, clarinets and timpani on single leaves), oblong 4to (c.24.5 x 31.5cm), contemporary blue card wrappers, manuscript label to cover

RARE: No copy in American libraries and only one in the UK. Haberkamp lists ten complete copies in European research libraries. We have no record of this first edition ever appearing at auction. 

This is one of Mozart's greatest piano concertos, probably begun in the winter of 1784-1785, but only recorded by him in his autograph work catalogue on 4 December 1786, the day before he gave the first performance at the Kasino in Vienna.

This edition was published by Costanze Mozart at her own expense, before she sold the majority of Mozart's unpublished manuscripts to Johann André in 1799. A second issue of Costanze's edition was brought out by André in 1800 with a new title page.

LITERATURE:

Haberkamp. p.273 (plate no.231); Hoboken 297; RISM M 5839; not in Hirsch.