MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY, Felix (1809-1847) - photo 1

MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY, Felix (1809-1847)

Lot 66
14.12.2022 10:30UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 5 040
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 870798
Lot 66 | MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY, Felix (1809-1847)
Estimate value
£ 5 000 – 8 000
MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY, Felix (1809-1847)

Autograph note signed ('Felix') to his wife, Cécile, Birmingham, 21 September 1837.

In French. Signet seal in black wax surrounded by a hand-drawn heart, and nine lines of text on one page, 205 x 167mm, bifolium. Provenance: formerly in the collection of Gerald Felix Warburg (1901-1971, cellist) and Natica Nast Warburg (1905-1987, daughter of Condé Nast); Northeastern Auctions, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 27 October 2013, lot 503; acquired from Lion Heart Autographs, 2014.



One of only two surviving letters from Mendelssohn to his wife, Cécile, six months after their wedding.



‘Voici, chère Cécile, comme je garde ma promesse !

1000 lieues !

1000 baisers !

Espoir !

ton

Felix’



'See, dear Cécile, how I keep my promise! 1000 leagues! 1000 kisses! Hope! Your Felix'. The image on the seal evidently forms part of the message: it comprises the word '[HE]LAS', the number 1000, and a musical stave with the treble clef and a single note, E.



Mendelssohn met the 16-year-old Cécile Jeanrenaud in Frankfurt on 4 May 1836, and immediately fell in love; they became engaged on 9 September, and were married on 28 March 1837 at the French Reformed Church in Frankfurt. The present note was written during their first extended separation, caused by Mendelssohn's participation in the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival, for which he departed on 24 August. He conducted his oratorio St Paul on 20 September, and on the day of this note he performed the premiere of the Piano Concerto No. 2. Mendelssohn set off on his return trip immediately after his last performance on 22 September, rejoining Cécile on 27 September. The present memento may originally have accompanied a gift bought for her in Birmingham – perhaps an album. Only one other letter from Mendelssohn to Cécile survives, at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.





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This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
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10.12.2022 – 13.12.2022
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