Lot 228: CHOPIN, FRÉDÉRIC.

CHOPIN, FRÉDÉRIC. FINE, INTIMATE EARLY AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ("CHOPIN"), TO HIS BELOVED FRIEND, THE CELLIST AUGUSTE FRANCHOMME, WRITTEN IN IDIOSYNCRATIC FRENCH, describing his return from his visit to Franchomme in the Touraine, expressing his great pleasure at having visited him in the country and having had an unforgettable time, especially having eaten so much, and participated in curious country customs involving picking up with his nose a thin gold wedding ring from a plate of flour, which Chopin managed successfully with his long thin nose, mentioning Ferdinand Hiller and his publisher Maurice Schlesinger, and the composer Paer and relaying the best wishes of Hoffmann and Smitkowski 2 pages, large 8vo, [Paris, 1833] "Commencé le samedi 14, et fini le mercredi le 18, postmarked 18 [Septembre] and "Tours 20 Sept[embre]", integral autograph address-panel endorsed and postmarked, traces of seal, early repairs at folds, some small tears where opened, inscribed in pencil in another hand "18 7bre 1833"

"...Je suis arrivé três comodemment (excepté une petite episode desagréable causée par un monsieur excessivement odorifêre qui allait jusqu'à Chartres—et il m'a surprit la nuit)...On me trouve engressé [sic]..gracieuse que tu as été obligé de plonger dans...Hoffmann, le gros Hoffmann et le svelte Smitkowski t'embrasse aussi..."

This autograph letter has never been offered for sale before. It has come by descent through the Franchomme family. This letter is inaccurately published in Sydow [no.133], who silently corrects Chopin's grammatical mistakes and changes certain words.

This letter reveals a different Chopin from the usual cold and reserved impression: he is lively and amusing and full of wit, admixed with a dash of malice. It also reveals the range of his musical acquaintances in Paris.