WAGNER COSIMA: (1837-1930)

WAGNER COSIMA: (1837-1930)
WAGNER COSIMA : (1837-1930) born Francesca Cosima Liszt. Illegitimate daughter of Liszt. Second wife of Richard Wagner and, with him, founder of the Bayreuth Festival. Cosima was the principal inspiration for Wagner´s later works, particularly Parsifal. After Richard Wagner´s death, she devoted the rest of her life to the promotion of his music. A very fine A.L.S., `Cosima´, four pages, small 8vo, n.p. [Munich], 31st March 1868, to Countess Claire de Charviacé, at Versailles, in French. Cosima Wagner asks her correspondent a favour and an advice regarding women´s hats and fashion in Paris, stating in part `J´ai vu announcer dans les journaux de modes un chapeau mantilla… comme j´ai l´horreur des petits chapeaux j´aimerais assez à leur échapper sans trop sortir de la mode. On me dit que le chapeau mantilla se porte au théatre… Pardonnez-moi de vous molester, c´est encore plus votre avis que votre obligeance que je mets à contribution, car je sais qu´à Paris on ne se gêne pas pour l´allemagne, et si je m´adressais à une marchande de modes directement ell m´enverrait immédiatement Dieu sait quoi…´ ( Translation: “I saw a mantilla hat advertised in the fashion journals… as I hate little hats, I would like to remain far from them without going too far out of fashion. I am told that the mantilla hat is worn in the theatre… Forgive me for molesting you, it is even more your opinion than your kindness that I put to contribution, because I know that in Paris people do not care about Germany, and if I would contact a fashion dealer directly she would send me immediately God knows where...”) Accompanied by the original envelope in Wagner´s hand, postmarked and stamped. VG