Beethoven, Ludwig van.

probably to the lawyer Dr. Johann Baptist Bach, apparently relating to Beethoven's litigation over the guardianship of his nephew, concerning his nephew's property, stating that his grandmother Theresia Reiss made him sole heir in her will, noting that her portion of the estate of her father, Paul Lamatsch, has been for the last four years with the Vienna Magistracy, having previously been in Retz, impressing upon him that the authorities should be informed about this, in order to prevent delay and chicanery, asserting that it is certain that 1000 fl. of this estate will belong to his nephew; Beethoven also states that it will be necessary to procure a document concerning the 7000 fl. belonging to his nephew as a result of the sale of Frau van Beethoven's house in the Alservorstadt, and appending at the end the address of this house as well as that of her current abode, 2 pages, large folio (38.5 x 23.6cm), no place or date [Vienna, 1821], horizontal and vertical folds

Ludwig van Beethoven. Briefwechsel Gesamtausgabe, ed. Sieghard Brandenburg, iv (1996), 1452, pp.466-467; not in Anderson

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."

"...es ist ebenfalls nöthig ein dokument zu haben über die 7000 fl: w.w., welche meinem Neffen gehören, u. welche der aussage nach auf dem von der F[rau]. van Beethoven verkauften Hause liegen sollen (die Nuznießung hievon hat die Mutter) zu diesem Behufe seze ich sowohl das N.^o von dem verkauften Hause als das N.^o von der Fr. v. B., im Falle man selber hiebei benöthigt ist..."

This is a striking and imposing manuscript by Beethoven, displaying his combative and forceful character.

Beethoven's relationship with his nephew Karl (1806-1858) was one of the most intense of his life. His decision to contest co-guardianship of Karl with the boy's mother Joanna van Beethoven (née Reiss, c.1784-1868), after the death of Beethoven's brother Caspar Carl on 15 November 1815, resulted in years of legal wrangling, only finally resolved in favour of Beethoven in July 1820 when a petition by Frau van Beethoven to the emperor was rejected. Beethoven's regular legal adviser since 1819 was the Hof- und Gerichtsadvokat Johann Baptist Bach (1779-1847). According to Briefwechsel Gesamtausgabe, a date of 1821 for the letter can be confirmed by the house number Beethoven gives for Joanna van Beethoven's dwelling, and by the reference to the Retz inheritance, referred in 1817 to the Viennese Magistracy.