Chopin, Frederic - Signed Contract-Document 1840 and Portrait

Polish composer and virtuoso pianist (1810-1849), one of the most prominent composers for piano in history and a prominent figure of the Romantic era. 

Chopin signed this historical contract at the bottom, acknowledging the receipt of money for the rights to publish 3 of his works, including the opus 35 ("Funeral Sonata"), one of his most famous works. An important Chopin autograph to have!.

Document is printed, completed in ink by another hand, and signed by Chopin below the date and place (Paris, May 1840). Beautifully matted with a CDV or carte-de-visite from the 1860s, showing a portrait of the composer, who died of tuberculosis at age 39. A CDV created by photographer Wesenberg, St. Petersburg, Russia.

Document is 7 x 5 inches (visible window size), CDV is 2.5 x 4 inches, total mat size is 16 x 10 inches, ready to frame. Document is in good condition, actual total size is 9.5 x 5.5 inches, has rust stains on borders hidden by the matting, and can be easily removed from mat if desired.

ALSO INCLUDED is the book "Chopiniana", published in 2010 by the Polish Historical and Literary Society in Paris (which hosts a small museum in Paris dedicated to the composer), 102 pages with many illustrations showing their collection of items related to Chopin, 9.25 x 11.25 inches, in very good condition.

A very rare item and an important document, matted with a nice portrait of the composer and a fine book.