Ludwig van Beethoven, Brief an Breitkopf und Härtel in Leipzig, Wien, 2. Juli 1810, Abschrift

Beethoven agrees to sell a whole series of works to the Leipzig publisher Härtel for 250 gold ducats - he cannot ask for any less because of offers from the competition in Vienna. He will send the works in three lots, linking each delivery date with a publication date.

The first lot should be published by 1 September 1810 and contains the String Quartet op. 74, the Fantasia op. 77, two Sonatas opp. 78 and 79, Variations op. 76 and five Lieder op. 75.

The second lot to be published by 1 November contains the Fifth Piano Concerto op. 73, the Choral Fantasia op. 80 and three Lieder op. 83.

The third and last lot is to be published by 1 February the following year and comprises the Sonata op. 81a, the four Ariettas and a Duet op. 82 and the score of the Incidental Music to Egmont op. 84.

In a note Beethoven adds that the music for Egmont is the exclusive property of the publishing house Breitkopf & Härtel. He also confirms that the first lot is already on its way. Beethoven assures Härtel that the works in the first lot will definitely not appear in England beforehand. So it is not possible that a copy will reach Germany. Yet it is for the best - as far as business is concerned - if he keeps to the deadline of 1 September.

Härtel did not trust Beethoven's claim and made enquiries via business contacts in London as to the English editions. The works in question did in fact already appear in August. The publishing house bought all of the works offered by Beethoven, publishing them the following year.