913. FELIX MENDELSSOHN (1809 - 1847) German composer of symphonies, concertos, and operas, well known for his overture "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Superb partly-printed D.S. "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" 1p. legal folio, London, June 5, 1838, engrossed by Mendelssohn and signed at conclusion, being a contract with Joseph Alfred Novello for the copyrights and rights of Psalm 42. The contract reads, in part: "...I have sold this day to Mr. Joseph Alfred Novello at the price or sum of fifteen guineas all my Copyright and Interest, present and future, vested or contingent or otherwise, of an in the 42nd Psalm...for orchestra and four voices...". At the head of the document, Mendelssohn adds: "For England and Great Britain only". Mendelssohn would have only been able to assign the British rights because the rights to the present work were assigned to Breitkopf & Hartel. Both Novello and Breitkopf published vocal scores of Psalm 42 in 1838, and in the following year Breitkopf issued a full score. Bound in recent paper boards within a custom linen case. Fine condition. Mendelssohn is extremely scarce in signed contracts. $5,000 - 6,000