Many of Beethoven's surviving letters were written to his publishers, who, being professional businessmen, preserved them carefully. The Schott publishing firm was one of Beethoven's most important publishers. Founded in Mainz, Germany, by Bernhard Schott (1748-1809), the firm continued by his sons Johann Andreas Schott (1781-1840) and Johann Joseph Schott (1782-1855) after his death. The firm's association with Beethoven date back to the composer's years in Bonn, which makes sense as Mainz, like Bonn, is on the Rhine River and only seventy miles from Bonn. In 1791 the firm published the twenty-year-old composer's Variations for Fortepiano on Righini's Arietta Venni amore, WoO 65. The brothers did not have contact with Beethoven after he moved to Vienna until 1824, when they wrote the composer to express their desire to publish his latest works. On March 11, 1824, Beethoven offered them the Missa solemnis (described as my greatest work in the letter), the Ninth Symphony, and a new string quartet (the late quartet in E-Major, Opus 127). At that letter's close he explains: "when dealing with these proceedings, do not judge me a businessman, I am not permitted to despise competition [between publishers] even though I am a true artist, by earning money I am able to work faithfully for my muses and am able to provide for very many people in a noble manner." Translation: Dear Sirs! My answer to your last [letter] has waited a long time, because I was ill in the country, however, I have now fairly well recovered—I therefore report to you that by the day after tomorrow both works [the mass and symphony] will be delivered to Fries and Company, by the end of the month, the Quartet will also follow, I would be pleased if, by then, I could receive the fee designated for it directly upon delivery of the Quartet— for today it is not possible for me to tell you anything else further, except that I shall write to you again in a few days, when I shall make you a proposition that will perhaps please you. With esteem and friendship, your most devoted Beethoven.
