Kaspar Karl van Beethoven, Brief an Breitkopf & Härtel in Leipzig, Wien, 26. März 1803

The letter is a joint effort by the Beethoven brothers. It was initiated by the composer Ludwig van Beethoven, but he does not appear. The letter was sent by the elder of his two younger brothers, Kaspar Karl, who managed his brother's business affairs from 1802 to 1806. As a finance official Karl was predestined to negotiate with publishers and was very successful as far as the business side of things was concerned. However Ferdinand Ries reports that Karl's negotiation techniques met with horror amongst the Viennese publishers. As Karl is lying in bed with rheumatic fever, he dictates the letter to his younger brother Johann, who also signs on Karl's behalf.

Karl had offered the Leipzig publishing house Breitkopf & Härtel the Second Symphony op. 36, the Third Piano Concerto op. 37 and parts of the ballet "Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus" ("The Creations of Prometheus") op. 43. As Härtel only wanted to pay 500 florins for opp. 36 and 37 instead of the requested 600 florins and was not at all interested in op. 43, Karl informs him that he has now sold both works to another Viennese publisher (Kunst- und Industrie-Comptoir) for 700 florins.

Karl also complains about Härtel's low offer with regard to sonatas and explains that he will now sell them to someone else. He announces that he will offer him further works in the coming weeks and finally informs Härtel of the opus numbers for the Variations opp. 34 and 35.