1431579
Jenny Lind
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Signing with dual signatures,
the renowned soprano arranges a meeting
Johanna Maria Lind Goldschmidt, a/k/a Jenny Lind, 1820–1887. Autographed Letter Signed, Jenny Goldschmidt / J. P. Lind, one page, with integral leaf attached, 8¼" x 10¼", on plain stationery, Victoria Hotel, Hamburg, [now Germany], July 8, 1852. In German.
Fresh off of her hugely successful American concert tour, and recently married, Lind arranges to meet a friend, or perhaps a fan. Signing two signatures, bearing both her married and maiden names, she writes to “Dear Nanette,” in full: “If you can come for us tomorrow, Friday, at 1 or 2, I want to arrange it so that you will meet us. / Kindly / Your / Jenny Goldschmidt / J. P. Lind"
Lind, known as the “Swedish Nightingale,” was considered one of the finest sopranos of the 19th Century. Although she had her critics, her crystal clear voice was admired by the likes of Felix Mendelssohn. She became famous from her 1838 Swedish performance of Der Freischütz, and in the years to follow she was in high demand for opera roles in both Sweden and northern Europe. She recovered after damaging her voice and then announced her retirement in 1849 after two successful opera seasons in London.
At the urging of American showman P. T. Barnum, however, she agreed to tour the United States. Barnum, who had never heard her sing but knew of her success in Europe, offered her a huge sum, with all expenses paid, for 150 shows. He paid her $187,500 in advance and gave her options to terminate the tour at certain points upon refunding $25,000. She undertook the tour in order to raise money for her favorite charities, including free schools for Swedish children.
The tour was a stunning success. Barnum, a crackerjack promoter, publicized it well in advance, making Lind a star in the United States before she ever reached its shores. Americans who had never heard of her now knew that she was simple, talented, and devoted to charitable causes. Some 30,000 people met her when her ship landed, and another 20,000 were waiting at her hotel. Tickets for her concerts were in such demand that Barnum auctioned them.
Lind performed her first concert at Castle Garden in New York before a sellout crowd of 5,000 people who had bought tickets at auction for as much as $225 apiece, more than $6,800 apiece today. She played more than 30 shows in New York before the tour moved down the coast and to the southern states. She also performed in Cuba. After 93 concerts and profits of more than $350,000—$10.6 million today—and Barnum made more yet for himself—she terminated the contract with Barnum and continued touring on her own for nearly a year.
On February 5, 1852, Lind married her accompanist, Otto Goldschmidt. They left the United States in May 1852 to return to Europe, where they lived in Dresden, Germany, until 1855 before moving to England. She sang very little in public after her American tour, although she occasionally performed concerts. In 1866, after a concert at St. Jamesʼs Hall, The Times of London commented that "there is magic still in that voice,” hailing her “most perfect singing—perfect alike in expression and in vocalization. . . . Nothing more engaging, nothing more earnest, nothing more dramatic can be imagined."
Lind wrote this letter just two months after her marriage and only a few weeks after returning to Europe from her American tour. She has penned and signed it with her dual signature in brown ink.
The letter has two horizontal and two vertical folds. There is separation in the horizontal fold above the signatures, affecting the top of the “J" in “Jenny,” and a small triangular paper loss below the fold affects part of the “ld" in “Goldschmidt." There are other scattered tears and bits of paper loss, not affecting the text or the signatures, a paper clip stain in the blank top margin, and ink stains at the left that affect one word of text. Partial lengths of the horizontal folds along the integral leaf fold have been reinforced with cellophane tape on the back of the front leaf and the front of integral leaf. The letter is in fair condition and is priced accordingly.
Unframed.
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