Four hundred and ninety-two fascinating works of “musical paper” belonging to the collection of André Meyer, were the protagonists of the Parisian auction of Sotheby's entitled De la Collection musicale André Meyer, Manuscrit, Imprimès et oeuvre d'art, for a total allotment of 3.326.405 Euros.
The collection is one of the most beautiful in the world and each document, manuscript or volume contains something surprisingly magical and extraordinary, so much so that it is among the most coveted by collectors. The library was collected over a period of 75 years, before the collector's death in 1974. After his death, the collection passed to the heirs and was divided into several parts. The best known part went to the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris while other sections were already auctioned in recent years. The current selection has been preserved by an heir, has never been exhibited and is rarely seen by scholars, collectors.
Top lots: An autograph manuscript of exercise and composition for piano, by Ludwig van Beethoven (estimate EUR 100.000-150) awarded at EUR 252.750;
a superb autograph manuscript of Arnold Schoenberg which bears the words “Verehrte Familie Seybert! Diese Abschrift dieses meiner Frau gewidmeten II. Streich-Quartettes habe ich seinerzeit für meine Frau angefertigt. Indem ich Sie bitte, sie zum Andenken anzunehmen, gebe ich meiner Frau die Gelegenheit zu einem posthumen Dank für die Güte, die Sie uns getan – welches sie Ihnen gewiß zu höchst anrechnet aber wofür selbst zu danken gewiß ihr höchster Wunsch ist. Vielen Dank! Ihr Arnold Schönberg Oktober 1923”. (estimate 100.000-150.000) awarded at EUR 240.000;
elegant first edition, 73 pages, sheet 23×30 cm, with annotations by Johann Sebastian Bach (estimate 100.000-150.000 EUR) allotted for 228.750 EUR.
To follow: a first and other editions by Girolamo Frescobaldi (estimate 20.000-30.000 EUR) sold for 82.350 EUR;
a first edition of a 66-page musical-organ apparatus by Georg Muffat (estimate 40.000-60.000 EUR) sold for 78.750 EUR;
a first edition of 432 pages with corrections and annotations for the composition of Jean Philippe Rameau (estimate 60.000-80.000 EUR) sold at 72.750 EUR;
a drawing by Jakob Gotzenberger depicting Frederic Chopin at the Piano (estimate 10.000-15.000 EUR) sold for 60.750 EUR;
a first edition with compositions dedicated by Marco da Gagliano to Vincenzo Gonzaga (estimate 30.000-40.000 EUR) sold for 54.750 EUR;
a first edition of exercises for serious harpsichord by Domenico Scarlatti (estimate 10.000-15.000 EUR) sold for 51.150 EUR.
