MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY, Felix (1809-1847). Autograph letter signed ('Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy') to an unidentified recipient [possibly Sarah Austin], 103 Great Portland Street, London, n.d. [probably 1832], in English, 'Excuse my not being able to come this evening; a letter which I received a few hours ago communicated me the death of the oldest & dearest friend I had, & this loss makes me quite unfit to go to any party, as I would not be able to enjoy it', one page, 8vo (minor soiling), laid onto an album leaf, with two other items. Provenance: the leaf is from the autograph album of Sarah Austin's great-niece, Hope Fairfax Taylor (for which see lot 218).

MENDELSSOHN-BARTHOLDY, Felix (1809-1847). Autograph letter signed ('Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy') to an unidentified recipient [possibly Sarah Austin], 103 Great Portland Street, London, n.d. [probably 1832], in English, 'Excuse my not being able to come this evening; a letter which I received a few hours ago communicated me the death of the oldest & dearest friend I had, & this loss makes me quite unfit to go to any party, as I would not be able to enjoy it', one page, 8vo (minor soiling), laid onto an album leaf, with two other items. Provenance: the leaf is from the autograph album of Sarah Austin's great-niece, Hope Fairfax Taylor (for which see lot 218).

The reference is probably to Mendelssohn's close friend, childhood teacher and mentor Carl Friedrich Zelter (1758-1832), news of which caused the composer to return early to Berlin during his visit to London for the first performance of the Hebrides Overture.