Elgar (Edward) Two autograph letters signed ('Edward Elgar') to Alfred Littleton, Chairman of Novello Co., his music publishers, the first reading "We are glad to know that Gerontius is progressing so well. I wonder (you will forgive me for suggesting any mistake on the part of the business side) if you are quoting from the Gerontius agreement from memory or if you looked at it?  I had an idea that the agreement on assignment made the German edition chargeable on the sale of the English edition; if so, there will be time to clear off before anything comes to me. If that should turn out to be really so, we must hope that the sale will go on and soon clear off the German debt", three pages, small 4to, Villa Giovanni, Alassio, 26 December 1903. One month later Elgar writes "I am hoping to start for England next Saturday and had hoped to bring most of the score of the new overture 'In the South' (I am open to receive suggestions for a better title) so that as much hurry in preparing the parts can be saved your people as possible [...] I am very sorry I have not definitely replied to your kind suggestion. My initial impulse was to accept offhand and only my indefinite entanglements with other publishers make me hesitate. I must talk these over with you  as I don't feel entirely free in the matter [...] It is fine here now but a bitter, bitter wind and I'm quite prostrate with cold (catarrh) rheumatism and all the things we left England to avoid", four pages, light yellowing to margins, 4to, Villa San Giovanni, Alassio, 24 January 1904 (2)