Ludwig van Beethoven, Menuett für Klavier (F-Dur) WoO 217 sowie Skizzen zu nicht ausgeführten Werken, Autograph

Characteristic paper

A total of 18 sketches and drafts for discontinued works can be found on this leaf, which can be dated to Beethoven's early years in Vienna (he lived in Vienna from 1792 onwards), even though they do not bear any date. This is supported by the handwriting, which had a gentler touch in Beethoven's younger years and whose changes and deformation over the years has been well documented. In addition this leaf is made of paper which Beethoven used solely between 1792 and 1796. It has a striking characteristic, which enables identification beyond a doubt: its rastrology (staff-ruling). On folding a large sheet in the usual manner in the paper manufacturing process, bifolia arise with a fold in the middle on binding. Generally the staves were ruled on these bifolia separately so that a free margin was left on all four sides of the single leaf. Yet the type of paper Beethoven used for this sketchbook is ruled differently, namely across the complete spread of the bifolium (right across the middle fold). Thus there is no margin on the inner side of the leaf where it is bound. (J.R.)