I hear from Dresden that negotiations are on foot with you for the purchase of the publication rights in my three operas, Rienzi, The Flying Dutchman and Tannhäuser. Although I lost more than I can say on this unlucky edition, I should be very glad to learn, for the sake of the matter itself, that the sale to you had been effected.
In any event, even if this business is not concluded, I have a proposal to make to you, or, more properly, a request. I have completely run out of the issue of the Tannhäuser score, which I had autographed at one time. [...]
I should be extremely gratified if you could see your way to having the difficult and intricate score of Tannhäuser engraved. It is of course understood that I should ask no honorarium. However, there should be sufficient profit on the engraved score, after my latest revision of the opera, to prevent at least any loss to the publishers. [...]
Once more, let me add that the score is my own property, that I can dispose of it independently and consequently can place its publication in your hands without causing you to feel in any way obliged to enter into the further publication of the opera. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 397