[...] The great firm of music-dealers, Messrs. B. Schott and Sons, of Mainz, which has been inimical to me hitherto, has addressed a request to me for one of my big dramatic musical works for publication. I have made them a straightforward offer of The Rhinegold, with the sole reservation of the right to have a complete edition of the whole poem of The Ring of the Nibelungs published by a literary publisher, and I have asked what terms they propose to offer. I now ask you for your consent in case Schott's were to offer not less than 6000 francs. If you do consent—as I hope you will—will you empower me to conclude the sale of the rights of publication of The Rhinegold on the condition that the firm of Schott pay you or your firm 6000 francs? I think your declaration by letter would suffice me for this. [...]
Here I find myself once more in the ever youthful rôle of a débutant. [...] Well, I see this much, that I must put up with it once more, and that if I am to dream of the realisation of my hopes for The Nibelungs it can only be upon the basis of successes in Paris. Whether that work and Tristan will ever be performed, no one in Germany cares at all, least of all my nearest friends. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 450