[Fryderyk Chopin]—Franz Liszt | First edition of Liszt’s biography of Chopin, signed and inscribed by Liszt to Ferdinand David, 1852 or later

[Fryderyk Chopin]—Franz Liszt

F. Chopin par F. Liszt, Paris, Leipzig and Brussels: Escudier, Breitkopf and Schott, 1852, SIGNED AND INSCRIBED TO THE VIOLINIST FERDINAND DAVID (“Fer: David / son très affectionné / FLiszt”)

FIRST EDITION OF LISZT’S BIOGRAPHY OF CHOPIN, [2 leaves], 206 pages, [1 leaf], original blue printed wrappers, late nineteenth- or early twentieth-century black cloth, red morocco label with gilt lettering (“Chopin / Liszt”) to spine, browning to edges, light scattered spotting, light staining and wear to wrappers

A fine rare copy of Liszt’s seminal biography published three years after Chopin’s death, and inscribed to the great German violinist Ferdinand David (1810-1873).

For all its longueurs, questions of authorship and ultimate motivation, Liszt’s study remains an important early contribution to Chopin biography. Although it remains significantly mute on the subject of Chopin’s actual style of playing and his contribution to the development of piano technique, it nevertheless contains many fascinating first-hand insights into its subject's personality as well as the Polish aspects of his inspiration.