Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) - photo 1
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) - photo 2

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Lot 31
09.07.2025 10:30UTC +01:00
Classic
Sold
£ 21 420
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
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ID 1450530
Lot 31 | Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Estimate value
£ 14 000 – 18 000
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Autograph letter signed (with initial 'B') to Joseph Blahetka, [Vienna, ?1817 / 18]
In German. One page, 197 x 116mm, integral address leaf ('an Seine Wohlgebohrn H: v. Blahetka'), remnant of seal. Provenance: Dr Hering, London, 14 August 1832 (presentation inscription by Blahetka on the blank upper margin of the address leaf) – Parke-Bernet, 19 March 1963, lot 53 – Stargardt, 1 Dec 1988, lot 703 – Stargardt, 5 April, 1991, lot 1018 – Stargardt, 19 September 1992, lot 431.

Arranging to see a friend (and father of a talented young pianist) the same afternoon.

'Da ich weiß, daß sie Nachmittags schon ohnedem zu Hause sind, so komme ich sicher gegen 5 Uhr diesen Nachmittag zu ihnen – leben sie indessen wohl mein lieber B'. ('As I know that you will be at home in the afternoon anyway, I will definitely come to you around 5 o'clock this afternoon – in the meantime, farewell, my dear B[lahetka]').

The music critic and later publisher Joseph Blahetka (1782-1857) was the father of Leopoldine Blahetka (1809-1885), a child prodigy pianist who greatly impressed Beethoven and was assigned practice exercises by him (Ann Gertrud Huber, Ludwig van Beethoven, his pupils and interpreters, Vienna and Zurich 1953, p.36). Beethoven also played a significant role in arranging for Joseph Czerny to be her teacher. In 1818, around the time of this letter, Leopoldine was presented to the public for the first time at the age of 8 at a concert by the violinist Eduard Jaell.
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.07.2025 – 09.07.2025
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

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