The Misty Jade Collection contains over 4000 carefully curated items.

Early Editions

Vingt-Quatre Préludes et Fugues dans tous les tons et demi-tons pour le Clavecin ou Piano-Forte Composés par Jean Sebastian Bach, c. 1826/28

  • Publisher: Richault, Editeur des Euevres de Moscheles et Czerny, Boulevard Poissonnière No. 16, Paris

    Plate Number: 1169.R.

    Dates:

    Second French edition (some argue that it may be first).

    This Richault edition of Bach’s 24 Preludes and Fugues is a French reprint of the 1801 Nägeli (Zurich) Edition, which itself was based on earlier manuscripts of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. Published by Richault around 1826-1828, it became one of the most important French editions of these works.

  • This edition is identical to the one owned by Pauline Chazaren, a pupil of Chopin (and later a teacher of Cosima Liszt). She was very strongly recommended to Chopin by Liszt. Unfortunately Liszt could not take her on as a student himself due to professional circumstances. While this edition is not Chopin's personal annotated copy, it is the same edition that Chopin annotated for Chazaren, offering a glimpse into his pedagogical approach and musical interpretations. It is also a direct evidence that Chopin was actively correcting at least two Parisian editions of Bach’s preludes and fugues (in his own words - “not just engraver’s mistakes, but the ones that were accredited by those who claim to understand Bach”). One being Chazaren’s copy, the other one - his personal copy which he took with him to Majorca. Scholars however still debate which French edition was Chopin’s personal copy: Janet/Cotelle, Schlesinger or Richault.

    Pauline most likely acquired her edition around 1843 in Lyon and had lessons with Chopin around 1846.

    A 2010 facsimile edition of this annotated copy, published by the French Musicological Society, includes a scholarly commentary by Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger, examining Chopin's teaching style and performance practices.

    *Richault: Publisher of sheet music. Founded in 1805 by Chartres-born (Charles) Simon Richault (1780-1866), who had trained as apprentice to J. J. Momigny in Paris. Upon Simon's death the firm was taken over by his son Guillaume (1806-1877), then in 1877 by Guillaume's son Léon (b.1839). The business was sold to Costallat in 1898.

  • Acquisition: Acquired by Misty Jade in 2022 from a Paris-based source.

    Current status: In collection

Songs Compleat, Pleasant and Divertive; set to MUSICK. By Dr. John Blow, Mr. Henry Purcell, and other Excellent Masters of the Town. (From a 5/6 volume set). Vol. V, 1719

  • Publisher: Printed by W. Pearson, for J. Tonson, at Shakespeare's Head, against Catherine Street in the Strand, London

    Date: 1719.

    First Edition. Extremely rare

    Featured Composers:

    John Blow, Henry Purcell, Daniel Purcell, Arcangelo Corelli (arranged), John Christopher Pepusch,

    Richard Leveridge, William Corbett, Ralph Courtivill (Raphael Courteville), John Eccles, William Croft,

    Jean-Baptiste Lully, Jeremiah Clarke, John Weldon, Samuel Akeroyde, Thomas D'Urfey, Mr Eales

    (probably mistake for Mr Eagles, i.e. Eccles), Mr Hendell (George Frideric Handel), St Germain, John

    Lenton, William Turner, Senior Baptist (probably Giovanni Battista Draghi), "a man of quality", Thomas

    Farmer, Mr Peasible (James Paisible), John Barrett, Colonel (Simon) Pack, Mr J. C. (probably Jeremiah

    Clarke), Gottfried Finger

  • Songs Compleat, Pleasant and Divertive; set to MUSICK. By Dr. John Blow, Mr. Henry Purcell, and other Excellent Masters of the Town. Ending with some Orations, made and spoken by me several times upon the Public Stage in the Theatre. Together with some Copies of Verses, Prologues and Epilogues, as well for my own Plays as those of other Poets, being all Humerous and Comical.

    Collection of songs by Thomas d'Urfey, published between 1698 and 1720.

    In 1719, d'Urfey reordered and added more compositions to the work, comprising a 5 volume edition, with the title "Songs Compleat, Pleasant and Divertive". This edition was popular, and sold out quickly. In its second printing, d'Urfey reverted to the "Pills to Purge Melancholy" title. He added Volume 6 in 1720. The 6 volume "edition" was the final edition. A great number of these songs have no composer attribution, often being titled "A Song/A New Song" or something similar. It cannot be assumed that D'Urfey wrote every non-attributed song. The contents listing above is an attempt to match pieces to composers wherever possible. Quite a few of these songs are traditional English/Scottish/Irish tunes set to words by D'Urfey, or songs from D'Urfey's plays, many of which have little surviving information.

    A very rare and significant edition featuring some of the oldest known compositions in their most original shape and form.

  • Acquisition: Acquired by Misty Jade in 2023.

    Current status: In collection.

SOUVENIR de la POLOGNE. 2nd SET OF MAZURKAS, as played by MR. LISZT at his Concerts. Composed by FRED. CHOPIN. Dedicated to MONSIEUR JOHNS, de la Nouvelle Orleans., c. 1846 - 1852

  • Publisher: Wessel & Co., Importers and Publishers of Foreign Music, (by special appointment) to H. R. M. the Dutchess of Kent. No. 229, Regent Street, Corner of Hanover Street, London.

    Plate Number: 959

    Dates: Composed between 1830–1831, dedicated to Paul Emile Johns from New Orleans;
    Originally published by Kistner (Leipzig) in 1832.
    The Wessel & Co. edition, with plate number 959, was part of a complete collection of Chopin’s compositions and issued between 1846-1852 (reprint of earlier editions), a period when Chopin’s works were gaining increasing popularity in England, especially after his death.

    Details: Part of a large bound volume including other early editions of Kuhe, Rosellen, Beethoven, Thalberg, Herz, and Mendelssohn.

  • While it is debated whether Chopin's music was initially unpopular, it is clear that by the 1840s, demand for his works had grown significantly. Liszt's association with Chopin, either through his performances or advocacy, likely contributed to the increasing demand for Chopin's music in England. The exact number of mazurkas performed by Liszt is debatable. According to Liszt, in a letter to Marie d’Agoult, Wessel asked him to come and play some Chopin’s pieces in London to make them more famous; Wessel claimed that he was losing money on them, and Liszt did include two Mazurkas in his London concert programme of 1840. Wessel however advertised that Liszt performed at least three full opuses (Op. 6, 7 and 8).

    *Wessel & Co. Publishing firm of music sheets, most notably of the works of Chopin, for which they obtained the exclusive publishing rights for Britain in 1836; their and Chopin’s relationship was notably turbulent, with debates about royalty payments, underpayments and rights. Despite this, they played a major role in publishing Chopin’s works in the English-speaking world. The firm was founded in 1824 by Christian Rudolf Wessel (1797-1885) and William Stodart, trading as Wessel & Stodart from 1824 to 1838; then in partnership with Frederic Stapleton between 1839-1845.

  • Acquisition: Acquired by Misty Jade in 2021.

    Current status: In collection.

The Lady’s Magazine: OR ENTERTAINING COMPANION for the FAIR SEX, Appropriated solely to their USE and AMUSEMENT. 1787
George Frideric Handel, Henry Purcell, William Hudson

  • Publisher: G. Robinson, No. 25 Pater-noster Row, London.

    Date: Vol XVIII, for the Year 1787.

    Featured Compositions:

    Ballad for the Lady’s Magazine, music by Mr. Hudson

    Song in the Oratorio of Deborah, music by Mr. Handel

    Song in the Oratorio of Saul, music by Mr. Handel

    Glee for Three Voices by Henry Purcell

    Song in the Oratorio of Susannah, music by Mr. Handel

    Song in the Oratorio of Semele, music by Mr. Handel

    Song in Handel’s Additional Oratorio

    Song in the Occasional Oratorio, music by Mr. Handel

    Song in Alexander’s Feast, music by Mr. Handel

    Song in the Oratorio of Hercules, music by Mr. Handel

  • The Lady's Magazine; or Entertaining Companion for the Fair Sex, Appropriated Solely to Their Use and Amusement, was an early British women's magazine published monthly from 1770 until 1847. Priced at sixpence per copy, it began publication in August 1770 by the London bookseller John Coote and the publisher John Wheble, later, George Robinson. It featured articles on fiction, poetry, fashion, music, and social gossip and was, according to the Victoria and Albert Museum, "the first woman's magazine to enjoy lasting success."

    The magazine claimed a readership of 16,000, a figure that has been considered high when contemporary literacy levels and underdeveloped printing technologies are taken into account. George Robinson's The Lady's Magazine dominated the market for most of its run, and led to imitations like the Lady's Monthly Museum and Alexander Hogg's New Lady's Magazine, or, Polite, useful, Entertaining, and fashionable Companion for the Fair Sex.

    The Lady’s Magazine played a significant role in distribution and circulation of early printed music editions between 18th and 19th centuries, making them accessible to various social classes, and thus expanding popularity of newly composed classical music and its composers.

  • Acquisition: Acquired by Misty Jade in 2022.

    Current status: In collection.