Frederick DELIUS (1862-1934)

Autograph Postcard Signed (“Frederick Delius”) addressed on the verso to John Coates, inviting him to a performance of Appalachia, and asking to speak with him about “the opera”.
1 page oblong 8vo on a correspondence card, 7 Pembroke Villas, Kensington, n.d. [postmarked 20 November 1907]. 
“Are you free on Friday night? I want you to hear “Appalachia” 2 tickets are at your disposal, please drop me a line. I want to speak to you also about the opera: have been frightfully busy & also away in the provinces.”
Delius revised his 1896 work, American Rhapsody, as a choral and orchestral work, Appalachia, premiered in 1904. Appalachia received its British premiere in 1907. Sir Thomas Beecham, to whom Delius’s work was still unknown, was so struck by Appalachia that he became Delius’s greatest British champion.
John Coates, a near-contemporary of Delius at Bradford Grammar School, was a tenor noted for his performances of works by Elgar, particularly The Dream of Gerontius, and later for Wagnerian roles. Coates had started his career as a baritone, and Delius may have been thinking of him for the baritone solo in Appalachia when writing to him. The opera in question could be A Village Romeo and Juliet, which had its premiere in Berlin earlier that year; it was to have its first staging in London in 1910.

Delivery

Autographs can be delivered worldwide. Delivery costs are calculated at the time of order and items will be sent by the most appropriate means, depending on your location and the value of the item. This will usually be by Royal Mail Special Delivery within the UK and Royal Mail Tracked outside the UK. 

The current delivery charges are:

• UK:

  Royal Mail Special Delivery £9.00

• Europe:

  Europe Royal Mail Tracked £15.00
  EU customers should note that, following brexit, local VAT and customs duties may apply to their purchases. 

   USA:

• Royal Mail Tracked £25.00

  Rest of the World:

• Rest of the World Tracked £20.00

   

Export Licensing

Customers should be aware that all letters and documents over 50 years old require an export licence, which may delay delivery by anything from one to three weeks. Signed photographs are not subject to export licence regulations, and can be sent immediately.

There is no charge for the export licence and I will take care of the application, the only inconvenience to you will be the delay.

Authenticity

The authenticity of the letters and documents offered is guaranteed.

Payment

Online sales orders

Payments made via the website are processed by Shopify Inc and can be made using Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

Telephone sales orders

Items may be purchased by phone. Please contact me using the website Contact Form and I will call you within 48 hours to discuss your requirements. Payment for purchases ordered by phone can be paid upon receipt of the invoice and must be paid within 7 days. Phone orders can be paid by cheque (in pounds sterling only) or bank transfer.

Items will be reserved for one week following the order confirmation and will be dispatched either within 7 days after full payment has been received, or after any required export licenses have been granted.

Returns Policy

Should you be in any way dissatisfied with your purchase, items may be returned within six weeks of delivery and a full refund will be made upon receipt of the returned item. The item must be received by Richmond Autographs in the same condition as when dispatched.  For full details, please read our Terms and Conditions.