F. Chopin. Collection of first and early editions of the piano works, late 1830s to 1850s

Chopin, Fryderyk

Collection of first and early engraved editions of the piano works, Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel, late 1830s to 1850s

1) Scherzo Op. 20, 19 pages (c. 34.5 x 24.5cm), plate number 5599, priced on title at 1 Rthlr, publisher's round stamp to title, no wrappers [cf. CFEO: 20–1-B&H; Hoboken 256]

2) Deux Polonaises Op. 26, 17 pages (c. 34 x 26cm), plate number 5707, priced on title 20 Gr., publisher's round stamp to title, uncut, no wrappers, [CFEO: 26–1-B&H]

3) 2ème Impromptu Op. 36, 7 pages (c. 33.5 x 26.5cm), plate number 6333, blue publisher's wrappers, priced on title and wrapper at 12 Gr., no stamps to title or wrapper, ownership inscription: "Ernst Rudorff 1890 (Nachlass von M[arie]. H[offmeister].)", [CFEO: 36–1-B&H; Hoboken 337], tear to wrapper

4) Berceuse Op. 57, 8 pages, plate number 7259, grey-blue wrappers, priced at 15 Ngr, publisher's blue stamp to title [Hoboken 426]

5) Deux Nocturnes Op. 62, plate number 7547, publisher's round stamp to title, priced at 22½ Ngr, later grey wrappers [cf. CFEO: 62–1-B&H]

together with other early editions (also Breitkopf & Härtel unless indicated):

6-18) La ci darem la mano Varié pour le piano seul, Vienna: T. Haslinger, plate number 7714, engraved blue wrappers--Douze Etudes Op. 10 (books 1 & 2), Leipzig: Kistner--Grand Concerto Op. 11, [piano solo part], Fr. Kistner, plate number 1020, 1021, 1022, priced at 2 Thlr, no wrappers--Douze Etudes Op. 25 (book 1), plate number 5832, green printed wrapper--Scherzo Op. 31, plate number 5852, pink printed wrappers--Sonate pour le piano Op. 35, plate number 6329, yellow printed wrappers--Tarantelle Op. 43, Hamburg: Schuberth, plate number 449, yellow printed wrappers--Deux Nocturnes Op. 48, plate number 6653, blue printed wrappers--Fantaisie Op. 49, plate number 6654, grey wrappers--Polonaise Op. 53, plate number 7002, printed wrappers--Barcarolle Op. 60, plate number 7545, green printed wrappers--Fantaisie-Impromptu Op. 66, Berlin: Schlesinger, yellow printed wrappers--3 Études...pour la Méthode des Méthodes, Paris: Schlesinger, green printed wrappers, and others

22 volumes, unbound, folio, engraved music, some lithographed titles and wrappers; together with a dozen later nineteenth-century editions, some from the Breitkopf Complete Edition (edited by Rudorff and Clara Schumann), around 36 items in all

"Breitkopf & Härtel produced an especially large number of Chopin first editions which pose greater challenges of description and chronological classification than those of any other firm" (Chopin Online). Ongoing research into caption titles, advertisements, title-page "logos" and stamps, Clara Schumann's interventions and other details is likely to affect identification of first issues and reissues.

LITERATURE

Chopin Online: including the 'Annotated Catalogue' and 'Chopin First Editions Online'; Katalog der Sammlung Anthony van Hoboken, vol. 4, edited by K. Breitner & T. Leibnitz (1986)