WANDA OSTROWSKA SZIGETI - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 10/25/1954 - HFSID 49495

WANDA SZIGETI
Signed autograph letter from Switzerland (1954), sharing information about the mother of a mutual friend with author Frances Winwar
Autograph Letter signed: "Wanda". Red pencil notations in unknown hand in top left corner of page 1. 2 pages (front and verso), 5¼x8¼. Celigny, Switzerland, 1954 October 25. To "Dear Frances" [Winwar], in full: "I've just received your letter and I hasten to give you the information about Francisco's mother. She is alive and has a house in Florence (Italy) and I am surprised that nobody knows it. I don't have her address - but if you want to get in touch with her do write her in c/o Mr. Franco Passigli, via Rudimilli 10, Florence. Her family name is Mrs. Mendelsohn & she is well known in musical circles. I don't know anything about poor Francisco - he probably is still in a sanitarium. If I am in New York on my way back, I will try to see you. All the best from us both." Wanda Ostrowska was a young Russian stranded at a Swiss boarding school by the Russian Revolution when she met Hungarian virtuoso violinist Joseph Szigeti in 1918. Unable to contact her parents and entangled in the laws of various countries, they had a difficult time getting married, but then stayed together until her death in 1971, raising a daughter. (Joseph died two years later.) Wanda often traveled with her husband on his concert tours. They had a home in California, but spent much time in Celigny, near Geneva, and moved there permanently in 1960. The letter was addressed to Frances Winwar (1900-1985), a Sicilian-born author of numerous literary biographies. Lightly toned, soiled and creased. Show-through and ink transference, which touches signature and body of letter. Paperclip impression and rust stains in top left corner. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.