RPS MS 406

Objects relating to Beethoven’s death and burial; 1827, 1838[?], 1924.

ff. 6. Various sizes (see below), together in a box.

1. ff. 1-5. Small lock of Beethoven’s hair; cut 1827. Sewn to a paper (f. 1) with a note on the verso stating that it was cut from Beethoven’s head an hour after his death by ‘A. F.’. Above this note, perhaps added in another hand, is the date 14 Jan. [or Jun.?] 1838. A second, originally outer, wrapper (f. 2) has the same note, undated. With a letter (ff. 3-5) recording its presentation to the Society in 1928 by Mrs Arthur St. John. The two earlier items mounted together, visible areas 89 x 122 (f. 1), 72 x 160mm. (f. 2).

2. f. 6, and framed leaf. Half a laurel leaf from one of the three wreaths placed by Hummel on Beethoven’s body at his burial; 1827. With a note of authentication by Paul Friedrich Walther (f. 6) also recording his having given away the other half of the leaf. For Walther’s description of the burial, of his receiving the leaf and of his decision to give it to Frau Fanny Linzbauer, see RPS MS 408, ff. 63-4. Leaf mounted under glass in a 19th-century metal frame, 140 x 101mm.; f. 6, 200 x 258mm.

includes:

• f. 1 Hair: Ludwig van Beethoven, composer: Lock of Beethoven's hair: 1827.
• ff. 3-5 John Joseph Mewburn Levien, Secretary, Royal Philharmonic Society: Ludwig van Beethoven, composer: Mrs Arthur St. John, of Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire: Gladys Calvert, of London: Letter to J. J. M. Levien from G. Calvert rel. to the presentation of a lock of Beethoven's hair to the Royal Philharmonic Society by Mrs. A. St. John: 1928.
• f. 6 Ludwig van Beethoven, composer: Paul Friedrich Walther, Secretary in the Department of Imperial Finances, Vienna: Note of authentication accompanying half a laurel leaf from a wreath placed on Beethoven's coffin, signed by Paul Friedrich Walther rel. to Ludwig van Beethoven: 1827: Germ: Autogr.