BEETHOVEN, Ludwig van. Complete collection of 17 quartets for 2 violins, viola and cello by Beethoven (Opp. 18, 59, 74, 95, 127, 130-133, 135). In Paris, by Benoît Ainé (for quartets 1 to 9) and Maurice Schlesinger (quartets 10 to 17), s.d. CIRCA 1827]. 8 volumes in-4, midnight blue half-basane, smooth spines decorated with quadruple fillets and gilt lettering, red morocco leather title labels affixed to the first plate for quartets 1 to 9. Spines sunned, rubbed with leather missing from spines, slight scuffing to boards. Some foxing, not serious. Magnificent set of scores for the 17 string quartets composed by Beethoven between 1798 and 1826, from the library of the famous pianist Alfred Cortot (1877-1962). It includes the six Op. 18 quartets composed between 1798 and 1800, the five central quartets (the three "Razumowsky" quartets, Op. 59, 74 and 95, composed between 1805 and 1810), plus the last five quartets and the Grande Fugue from 1822-1826. The 8 volumes making up the set each present the score of one of the instruments on which the suite is intended to be played (2 violins, viola and cello), the first 4 volumes corresponding to the scores of quartets 1 to 9, the last four to quartets 10 to 17. A rare copy of Beethoven's 17 string quartets from the library of one of the great performers of the 20th century. Booklet details: Op. 18 (quartets 1-6) and Op. 59 (quartets 7-9) : - First violin: 1 f.], 1 f. (title), from 64 to 105 pp. (quartets 1 to 6 dedicated to the Prince of Lobkowitz); 1 f.], 1 f. (title), 106 to 137 pp. (quartets 7 to 9 dedicated to His Excellency the Count of Razumovsky, Op. 59), 1f.]. - Second violin: 1 f.], 1 f. (title), 8 to 70 pp. (quartets 1 to 9), 1f.]. - Viola: 51 pp. (pagination 51-115). - Cello: 1 f.], 61 pp. (pagination 44-105), 1f.]. Op. 74, 95, 127, 130, 131, 132, 135, 133 (Quartets 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17): - First violin: 1f.], 1f. (title), 1 p. (thematic catalog), from 82 to 91 pp. (10th quartet); 1f. (title), from 82 to 99 pp. (11th quartet dedicated to his friend from Domanaveti); 1 f.], 1 f. (title), 100 to 115 (12th quartet dedicated to Prince Galitzin); 1 f.], 1 f. (title), 116 to 131 (13th quartet, Op. 130, dedicated to Nicolas de Galitzin, label of the publisher Fillastre in Bordeaux); 1 f., from 132 to 139 pp. (14th quartet: grand fugue dedicated to His Imperial Highness Cardinal Rodolphe), 1 f.], 1f. (title), from 140 to 151 pp. (15th grand quartet dedicated to Nicolas de Galitzin), 1f. (title), from 152 to 165 pp. (16th grand quartet dedicated to Baron de Stutterheim), 1f. (title), from 166 to 177 pp. (17th great quartet dedicated to Jean Wolfmeyer, Op. 134), 1 f.]. - Second violin: 1 f.], from 68 to 153 pp. 1f.] - Cello: 1 f.], from 66 to 149 pp., 1f.] - Viola: 1 f.], 64 to 147 pp., 1 f.].