[Diamand, Peter]--Musicians.

Seven autograph letters by Artur Schnabel, signed ("A.S."), in German, about his financial problems in America and playing in Amsterdam, explaining that he cannot fix a time for the Holland Festival until his London dates are settled, complaining how hard it is to get answers from Walter Legge, explaining that his lack of other income from records or composing means that he has to charge $1,000 to play in Europe, discussing his Third Symphony and "Rhapsodie" and planned concerts with Klemperer, Horowitz and Szell, warning Diamand against staging operas by Berlioz, and including Schnabel's autograph attestation in 1941 that Diamand acted as his personal secretary, New York, 10 December 1940-17 May 1951; with 25 letters by Therese Schnabel to Peter and Maria Diamand, New York and Como, 1941-1954; together with over 50 letters and cards from musicians and other artists, mainly in English, many about the Edinburgh Festival, including by Menuhin (8 letters and cards, declining to play owing to commitments at Prades), Szigéti, Clifford Curzon, Isaac Stern (about the Jerusalem conference on "The Orchestra", 1986), Schwarzkopf, Anna Moffo, Lord Harewood (signed, "George", about staging [Albert Herring] at the Holland festival), Robert Mayer, Paul Sacher, William Glock,  Helene Berg, Friedelind Wagner (5), Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft, John Piper (about Carmen), Dorothy Tutin, Peter Ustinov, Princess Grace, Edward Heath (9, about Death in Venice), Denis Healey (2), Teddy Kollek, Josef Tal (57 items)

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."

Peter Diamand was Artur Schnabel's personal secretary from 1934-1938. He spent the war years hiding from the Germans or in a concentration camp and the 1941 letter from Schnabel was of great importance to him at this time.  Schnabel died in Switzerland in August 1951, only three months after the last letter to Diamand.

...Ich gebe wenige (der Zahl nach kaum erwähnbare) Konzerte, erteile keinen Unterricht, meine Platten sind aus unbekannten Gründen hier nicht erhältlich, Komponieren ist ein wirtschaftlich ruinöser Zeitvertreib (in meinem Fall) ; ich habe eben für die Abschrift meiner dritten Symphonie 1400 Dollar bezahlt..und werde nie einen cent mit dem Stück einnehmen. Das sind einige Gründe warum ich als Honorar für Klavierspielen verlangen muss was die Geschäftsleitungen der Musikindustrie vielleicht nicht gewähren wollen (sie sagen selbstverständlich: können)....