[...] I have already told you of my proposal to publish my Collected Writings. The fact that people are meddling with me in the most ignorant and careless fashion and that the confusion about me grows even worse confounded, is a constant warning to me to see that genuine knowledge, a true perspective of my deeds and works, is secured for this and for a later age. The enclosed paper will give you the plan of the edition. You will see that the whole is diverse enough and yet connected. The material for the first volume is absolutely ready, and so is almost all the remainder. The next thing is to find the right publisher. I told you all about my tiresome experiences hitherto with J. J. Weber's, and I should be very troubled if I had to go on in this way (as it were purely by the mercy of God). It vexes me to be no more than a make-weight in such an appallingly huge concern. My ideal would be a young beginner, who would be at some pains to make a name for his firm as quickly as possible—someone who would "throw himself into the job." Please consider what and whom you could propose for my purpose. As to whether the edition should appear quickly, or slowly, circumstances must decide. The volumes need not appear in their ultimate serial order. For instance, Volume IV. ("Opera and Drama") could be kept back till the end. The "Three Operatic Poems," "The Work of Art of the Future" and "Art and Revolution" are right out of print and I get many complaints about it, particularly from foreigners. There should be a good market in France, England and Russia. Volume I. could be begun at once. It makes entertaining and cheerful reading. (God! when I think how Mendelssohn's quite worthless and empty letters sell!) Well, I ought not to have much trouble about it, and the business should prove somewhat profitable. [...]
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Vol. 2, selected and ed. Wilhelm Altmann, trans. M. M. Bozman (J. M. Dent & Sons, 1927), No. 637