Lot 337: SCHUBERT, FRANZ.

SCHUBERT, FRANZ. ERLKÖNIG. BALLADE VON GÖTHE, IN MUSIK GESETZT...VON FRANZ SCHUBERT. 1 TES WERK [D.328], VIENNA: IN COMISSION BEY CAPPI UND DIABELLI, [1821] first edition of "Erlkönig" , 15 pages, oblong 4to (23.2 x 32.2cm), with Schubert's Control Mark on final side ("Sch[paraph] 149"), by him or on his behalf, engraved throughout, ownership inscriptions and ownership stamp to title, disbound, leading edge of title and lower right-hand corner of second leaf strengthened, a few tiny tears to margins of title, spine strengthened, some light spotting and browning, tiny tears to lower right-hand corners of most leaves

Hoboken 1; Deutsch 1a

The first edition of Schubert's celebrated opus one, bearing his original Control Mark.

The control numberings on the back of the last leaves of Schubert's editions have been the subject of considerable debate and speculation: positive identification of the composer's hand from such short markings is always open to dispute. However, we can say that these markings are present only on the earliest issues of Schubert's songs published as Opus 1 to Opus 14, dating from the years 1821 and 1822, and that they are authentic in the sense of being made by him or on his behalf by his brother Ferdinand Schubert, Leopold Sonnleithner and perhaps a few others. Formerly in the celebrated collection of Louis Koch.