Autograph Postcard and Photograph - "mailing [my works] during the war...opens a risk to which I would not like to expose myself"

Autograph postcard from the great composer to an Italian admirer, politely declining a request for copies of his music. Dated Morges, February 13, 1918. Translated from the French: "Monsieur: I am sorry that it is not possible to fulfill your request, because I possess only one copy of each of my works; mailing them during the war (with all the difficulties with customs in sending them abroad) opens a risk to which I would not like to expose myself. I believe you would do better if you addressed your inquiry to A. Casella, who has almost everything you desire. Please accept, Monsieur, my best regards, Igor Stravinsky." Attractively matted together with a reproduction photograph of Stravinsky to allow viewing of recto and verso of the postcard.

Stravinsky, with his wife and four children, settled in Morges, Switzerland (on the shores of Lake Geneva) during the World War I years. The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 deprived Stravinsky of his fortune and made his financial situation precarious; from these years on, he was obliged to work for a living. Notable works from the years in Morges include Les Noces, Renard, and his small-scale, jazz-influenced theatrical work L'Histoire du Soldat. (14599)

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Autograph Letter

Classical Music

Unsigned Photograph

• Sold