Lot 500: WAGNER, RICHARD

DAS RHEINGOLD...VOLLSTNDIGER KLAVIERAUSZUG VON KARL KLINDWORTH, MAINZ, BEI B. SCHOTT'S SHNEN, [1861] first edition, [4] & 216 pages, folio (33.5 x 26.5cm), lithographed Gothic architectural title-page in brown and black, showing a view of the Rhine framed by an arch and 2 knights in niches, engraved music, plate no.16152, contemporary cloth-backed boards, gilt title to spine, early ownership inscriptions to flyleaf (1872), later transcriptions after Wagner to verso of title and on an inserted leaf, some staining to corners,

WWV 86A X; Fuld, p.465

Rare: we have not traced any copy of this first edition at auction in recent decades. Wagner criticized the Gothic brown title page and in particular the architectural border featuring two knights as "most vexing", declaring that " the whole Gothic frame is completely pointless" (letter of 8 March 1861); he asked for it to be removed immediately and replaced with a simple border. Schott's complied with Wagner's demands and a new title page without illustration, frame or plate number was published as early as 11 April 1861. This edition predates the first peformance of Das Rheingold, given at Munich in 1869.