[...] I am sorry to say that I cannot prevent the publishing of my earlier operas by the present agent. He offered more than you were able to do (a thing I perfectly understand), and this made it out of the question for me, in the circumstances known to you, to dispose of them otherwise. You may imagine that it was a blow to me to know that the business was not to be put into your hands. As regards the score of Tannhäuser, I have given Müller the option of procuring his copies in future through you, or—if he is absolutely determined to publish the score as well—to come to an agreement with you about taking over this publication, a thing that may quite naturally suit you, as this costly publication would mean nothing but a loss to you at the moment and a further debt of gratitude due from me. Nevertheless, I am inclined to think that he will reject the latter suggestion, in spite of the fact that he would like to make an appearance with something imposing. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 416