[Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. (1756–1791)]. 1791 "Gentleman's Magazine" Recording Mozart's Death. London: Printed for D. Henry by John Nichols. December, 1791. First edition. The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle. For December, 1791. Being the Sixth Number of Vol. LXI. Part II. 194 [1073 - 1168] pp. Disbound, from a larger volume with traces of leather and string along spine, in very fine condition.


Founded by Edward Cave (1691 - 1754) under the pen name of Sylvanus Urban, the British monthly was one of the earliest magazines published, and one of the most successful, remaining in print for over 175 years. It was the first publication in history to utilize the title “Magazine," and it features articles on a variety of subjects, including pages summarizing the most notable news of the month at home and abroad, "obituaries, with anecdotes, of remarkable persons", the month's activities in Parliament etc. The highlight of the present issue is the obituary of the composer who died on Dec. 5th of that year. On page 1165 in the obituary section, it states simply: "At Vienna, Wolfgang Mozart, the celebrated composer. By his death the musical world will sustain an irreparable loss."


Mozart had died on December 5th and the present publication, issued in the last week of the month, constitutes one of the earliest printed notices of his passing, most probably the first notice printed in English. Rare.