Ludwig van Beethoven | Autograph letter signed, to his friend Nikolaus von Zmeskall, 28 October 1810

Ludwig van Beethoven

Fine characteristic autograph letter signed (“Beethoven”), to his friend Nikolaus von Zmeskall, dated by the recipient '28 8^br. [1]810'

enquiring about a recipe for boot-blacking, making a joke of the request and insisting that Zmeskall’s servant does not bring it as he cannot abide him

…Ich bitte um das Stiefelwiksrezept, ein gewikster Kopf bedarf auch einen gewichsten Stiefel—Die sache wird wohl ohne ihren Bedienten thunlich seyn…

1 page, 4to (22 x 19.5cm), with integral autograph address-panel, with a modern typed transcription and translation, modern pencil annotation to verso, on or before 28 October 1810, horizontal and vertical folds, some creasing, a few tiny stains, edges trimmed

A SPLENDID, HUMOROUS LETTER BY BEETHOVEN, the autograph of which has long been unavailable to modern Beethoven scholarship.

Count Nikolaus von Zmeskall (1759-1833), a violoncello-playing official in the Hungarian Court Chancellery, and one-time composition pupil of Mozart, by his own account, was one of Beethoven’s oldest friends and drinking partners, with whom the composer could communicate in a relaxed and unbuttoned manner. He often assisted Beethoven in practical affairs, occasionally lending him small sums of money. Beethoven's request here for boot polish is accompanied by the humorous observation that a 'well-polished head also needs a well-polished boot'. The misdemeanour of the servant is not elaborated on by Beethoven.

LITERATURE:

Anderson, no.282; Brandenburg, no.476 (only recto known from facsimile; location described as 'nicht bekannt'); A. Holde, 'Brief aus New York. Unbekannte Briefe von Beethoven, Liszt und Brahms', Die amerikanische Rundschau, 2 (1946), p.87 (facsimile); Barry Cooper, ed., The Beethoven Companion (1996), p.56