Music and Continental Books and Manuscripts
Sotheby´s London, United Kingdom, 8 June 2011
STROGANOV, SERGEI GRIGOREVICH AND FEDOR GRIGOREVICH
SOLNTSEV. DREVNOSTI ROSSIISKAGO GOSUDARSTVA, IZDANNIYA PO
VYSOCHAISHEMU POVEL'NIYU. OTDLENIE I (-VI) [ANTIQUITIES OF THE
RUSSIAN STATE, PUBLISHED BY THE HIGHEST COMMAND]. MOSCOW:
ALEKSANDR SEMEN, 1849-1853.
7 volumes (one text volume and 6 volumes of plates), 313 x 237 mm, one of 600 copies, 2
chromolithographed title-pages (one Russian, one French) in first plate volume,
chromolithographed section-title and table of contents in each plate volume, 508 (numbered
112+101+147+37+72+39) chromolithographed plates with captions in Russian and French,
contemporary green morocco gilt, spines lettered in French; Lot 103 sold for GBP 169,250,
estimate: GBP 60,000 – 90,000.
A fine copy with the text volume (which is sometimes missing). This elaborate description of
a wide range of Russian artefacts was conceived by A.N. Olenin, President of the Academy of
Arts, and undertaken with the patronage of Tsar Nicholas I. It was written by Stroganov and
illustrated by Solntsev.
MAHLER, GUSTAV. THE COMPOSER'S OWN COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION
OF THE THIRD SYMPHONY, CONTAINING HIS EXTENSIVE AUTOGRAPH
REVISIONS AND PERFORMANCE MARKINGS, THE FULL SCORE: 3.
Symphonie...Partitur [full score], Vienna: Josef Weinberger, [July 1902].
First edition, first issue, 231 pages, folio (c.33 x 26cms), plate no.9, priced at 40 marks, later
half calf, title repaired at inner margin, a few pages working loose, occasional tears and
staining to corners and margins (pp.103/104) Mahler's autograph additions and revisions to
most of the pages, including new music written into the staves and in the margins, in red ink,
in blue and brown crayon and in pencil, a working manuscript in places, with successive
layers of alterations and revisions, some reconsidered, with copious autograph performance
markings and notes, dynamics and articulation markings throughout; ink on paper.
Lot 296 sold for GBP 163,250, estimate: GBP 100,000 - 150,000.
FINE LETTERS AND FIRST EDITIONS FROM THE COLLECTION OF AUGUSTE
FRANCHOMME (1808-1884) CHOPIN, FRÉDÉRIC. REMARKABLE LONG
AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ("CH"), TO HIS BELOVED FRIEND,
THE CELLIST AUGUSTE FRANCHOMME, WRITTEN FROM EDINBURGH,
WITH AN ENGRAVED PANORAMA OF EDINBURGH, FROM CALTON HILL,
SHOWING THE CASTLE, WITH THE PENTLAND HILLS AND FIRTH OF FORTH
IN THE BACKGROUND.
Initially a letter of condolence on the death of Franchomme's father, Chopin provides a
detailed description of his travels in England and Scotland, he reveals that he has been
unable to compose for a while and offers the hope that he will soon begin to write music
again, he describes, in witty and amusing way his feelings of helplessness in being unable
to write, describes his room with is Broadwood piano and the concerts and musical
gathering he has attended and the successes he has had, he gives news of his forthcoming
travels in England and his meeting with Neukomm, he announces that he will not be
returning to France in the winter and that his other friends are acquainted with these plans,
he gives news of Jane Stirling, his current companion and also of other pupils and
acquaintances and gives a glowing account of Calder House and its beautiful gardens and
suggests that Franchomme can correct his French if he wishes.
2 pages, Edinburgh, 6 August 1848, Calder House, ink on paper.
Lot 227 sold for GBP 91,250, estimate: GBP 40,000 - 50,000.