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ALS in German, signed “l. v. Beethoven,” one page, 8.25 x 3, [Vienna, perhaps 26th October 1819]. Handwritten letter to an employee of the Universal Office, in full (translated): "Please kindly pay the bearer of this letter the portion of my nephew’s pension." At the top, Beethoven writes “P.P.” (Praemissis Praemittendis), a conventional form of polite address, and closes with “M.P.” (Manu Propria), meaning 'with one's own hand.' In fine condition, with a central vertical fold, and scattered light foxing.
The sole nephew of composer Ludwig van Beethoven, Karl van Beethoven (1806–1858), was the only son of the composer’s brother, Kaspar Anton Karl van Beethoven, and Johanna van Beethoven (née Reiss). He is chiefly remembered as the focus of a bitter custody battle between his mother and his famous uncle following his father’s death in 1815. It was one of the ugliest and most traumatic episodes in the composer's life.
In a contract dated May 10, 1817, Johanna agreed to transfer half of her pension toward the education of her son Karl. The Universal Office (Universalkameralamt) was the competent authority responsible for disbursing Johanna’s pension. The “bearer” referenced may have been Joseph Karl Bernhard or Franz Oliva, both of whom assisted Beethoven with domestic and financial matters. This letter directly reflects Beethoven’s hands-on—and often obsessive—involvement in his nephew’s financial support, a central and emotionally charged aspect of his later life.
In her 1952 article on Beethoven's letters, music historian Emily Anderson observes that 'when Beethoven was in a hurry, he frequently used 'P[raemissis] P[raemittendis]' as a form of address to all sorts of correspondents.' That he adds 'M[anu] P[ropria]'—self-authenticating his sought-after signature—adds even greater interest to the piece.
Recorded as Letter No. 1346 in the Correspondence of Beethoven.
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