CHOPIN SELLS THE COPYRIGHT TO HIS

2nd GRANDE SONATA AND HIS LA BERCEUSE

 

CHOPIN, FREDERIC.  (1810-1849).  Polish composer and pianist, noted for his lyric compositions for piano, including 55 mazurkas, 13 polonaises, 24 preludes, 27 etudes, 19 nocturnes, 4 ballades and 4 scherzos.  Remarkable and Very Rare Partly Printed Document Signed, “Frederic Chopin,” in English.  One page, quarto.  Paris, May 2, 1845.  Chopin acknowledges receipt from “Messrs Wessel and Co., no. 67 Frith Street, Soho Square London, the sum of twenty pounds…for the absolute sale of all my Copyright and Interest, present and future, vested and contingent, or otherwise, for the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, of and in the following works “for piano forte solo: 2nd Grande Sonata Opus 58, commencing…[and] La Berceuse Opus 57…composed by me…Frederic Chopin.”

This fabulous document concerns the publication of the first editions of two of the greatest works of Chopin’s maturity: the Third Piano Sonata and the celebrated Berceuse in D-flat major.  Both works were published by Wessel in June of 1845, preceding the Paris and Leipzig editions.  Some restoration along right margin, affecting a portion of the printed text and touching the ‘n’ of Chopin’s signature.  However, the legendary rarity of Chopin’s full signature, and the importance of the two works involved, make this a highly desirable item.

$37,500.00