Signed Louis Mélançon photograph of the great American soprano in costume as Leonora for a Metropolitan Opera production of Verdi's Il Trovatore. Arroyo has inscribed "To Paul / Best wishes / Martina Arroyo" in black ink to the upper right portion of the image. A press note to verso announces that Arroyo will be part of the Met's one-week engagement in Boston. Metropolitan Opera Press Department label to verso. In fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
An attractive original miniature collage of a bird, ca. 1850, executed in ink and feathers. The bird, carefully composed of real bird feathers, is shown perched on a miniature hill with trees. On a small sheet, mounted on a larger leaf. Slight rubbing and cracks; overall fine. 3.5 x 2.75 inches (9 x 7 cm), mounted to 8 x 7.5 inches (20.5 x 19.2 cm).
Group of 5 finely executed original pencil and watercolor drawings of birds, ca. 1850. The drawings, two in pencil and three in pencil with watercolors added, depict parrots and a pelican. Some light toning, but overall in fine condition. Two drawings ca. 5.5 x 7.5 inches (13.5 x 19 cm), three ca. 7 x 10.5 inches (18 x 27 cm).
Autograph postcard from the American painter, illustrator and sculptor. August 15, 1978. On a postcard of the illuminated castle in Heidelberg, he has penned: "Dear Steve, Not my work but I thought you might dig the picture. Happy days - Richard Artschwager." 5.75 x 4 inches (14.8 x 10.5 cm).
Cover page from a program for a performance with the Spanish National Orchestra in April of 1959, signed to verso by the Dutch pianist and Spanish conductor. In fine condition. 6 x 8 inches (15.2 x 20.3 cm.).
New York: The Sackett & Willhelms Corporation. 1917. Souvenir program for a 1917 performance of Oscar Asche and Frederic Norton's 1916 musical comedy Chu Chin Chow. The program, which features striking gold-tinted and relief-printed illustrations on the front and back cover, includes several lushly printed full-color costume renderings by costume designer Percy Anderson, and a lengthy synopsis of the show. 32 pp. Middle sheet present but separated, else in fine condition. 9 x 12 inches (22.9 x 30.5 cm.). Read More...
Los Angeles: Black Sparrow Press. 1969. First. The 1969 1st paperback edition, limited to only 750 copies. Light staining and soiling around the light-tan wrapper edges, small nick/bend to lower right edge which extends from front cover about halfway through the block, but internally very clean and overall an excellent, solid copy overall. 25 illustrations by the painter Alex Katz complementing John Ashbery's verse. This copy with the ownership signature to the ffe of the important American poet Frank Bidart, who received the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, the Griffin Poetry Prize Lifetime Recognition Award, and the 2017 National Book Award for Poetry for his book Half-light: Collected Poems 1965–2016.Read More...
Signed Capitol Records promotional photograph of the husband-and-wife songwriting team responsible for such smash hits as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "You're All I Need to Get By," and "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing." Inscribed, "Robert, / Thanks for the warm letters. / All the Best!" and the pair have signed, respectively, "Nick Ashford" and "+ Valerie Simpson" in blue ink to the upper left corner. Mounting remnants to verso and lower margin, otherwise in fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.).
Early recital program from a Sunday, October 17, 1965 performance at Symphony Hall in Boston. The Russian pianist has signed to the top of the program listing, which included works by Bach, Schumann, Ravel, and Scriabin. 8 pp. Very fine. 6 x 9 inches (15.2 x 22.9 cm).
Early signed photograph of the great pianist, ca. 1965, who has inscribed "To Paul / V. Ashkenazy" in black ink to the upper left. S. Hurok Presents stamp to verso. In very fine condition. 7.25 x 9.5 inches (18.4 x 24.1 cm.). Read More...
Early and intimate signed Wayne J. Shilkret of New York photograph of the great pianist, who has inscribed "To Paul / V. Ashkenazy" in black ink to the upper left. S. Hurok Presents and photographer's stamps to verso. Obtained around the time of the pianist's 1963 NY debut. In very fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.). Read More...
Original press photograph of the great Russian pianist looking happy with his wife, Þórunn (Dody) Jóhannsdóttir. Original press caption reads: "25-year-old Vladimir Ashkenazy, the Russian concert pianist, has been granted permission to remain in Britain with his wife and baby son." The Ashkenazys left the USSR after many struggles with the authorities over permission to travel and remained in England for several years before moving to Iceland in 1968. In fine condition. 20.5 x 25 cm.
Signed photograph of the American dancer movie stars mid-dance in the 1951 musical comedy film Royal Wedding. Powell and Astaire have both signed to the lower portion of the image. In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
8199. Astaire, Fred. (1899–1987). Original Photograph dancing en route to French premiere of "Funny Face"
Original 1956 photograph of the great dancer, as he dances on the tarmac in front of a TWA airplane in Paris, where he was arriving to attend the French premiere of "Funny Face." French news clipping and collection stamps on verso, fine. 5 x 7 inches (12.8 x 18 cm).
Signed Ernest Bachrach photograph, inscribed and signed to the popular Argentine Mundo Argentino magazine, "To King[?] of Mundo Argentino / Sincere good smiles for the Holiday Season / Fred Astaire." Part of the signature and inscription have been traced over in white, so that the inscription contrast could be shown when reproduced in the magazine (a tiny portion of the publication is affixed to the verso). Scattered marks and creases, margins trimmed, else fine. 7.5 x 9.5 inches (19.5 x 24 cm).
A superb signed doubleweight 8 x 10 inch black-and-white photograph of the legendary dancer in the role of Bake Baker in the 1936 film "Follow the Fleet," which included some of Irving Berlin's most popular tunes. Boldly signed in black ink.
Original press photograph, ca. 1952, showing the great dancer and entertainer with one of the horses on his ranch. Press caption on the verso reads: "When Fred Astaire isn't in front of the cameras he can quickly be found at his Chatsworth ranch where the offspring of his famed horse Triplicate romp and roam..." One stain at the upper right; otherwise very fine. 8 x 10 inches (20 x 24.5 cm).
Glossy photograph still from the 1934 Hollywood film The Gay Divorcee,signed and inscribed in blue and black felt tip ink by co-stars Fred Astaire and Erik Rhodes to "Dana." Very fine. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.). Read More...
Glossy photograph of Astaire and Rogers on a ballroom dance floor in Swing Time, signed in brown felt tip by Fred Astaire and in black felt tip by Ginger Rogers. Unexamined out of frame, possibly laid down to backing, but in apparently fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.), framed to 13.5 x 11 inches (34.3 x 27.9 cm.) overall. Read More...
Wonderful image of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing in formal attire, boldly signed by both. The poster measures an impressive 40 x 28 inches and has been dry mounted to foam core board. The signature of Ginger Rogers measures 5.5 inches and the Fred Astaire signature measures 3.5 inches. Small tape damage and repair in the center just above one of the bows, some fold-lines from before the mounting, slight area of moisture damage to lower right corner, otherwise fine. Certainly the largest signed photograph of these two film and dance icons that we have ever encountered!