19754. [Accordion]. Original Photograph of a Bear Playing an Accordion!
Unusual and amusing photograph from Russia, ca. 1980s, showing a tamed bear playing an accordion. The bear, seated and in a leather muzzle, appears to be playing in a public square and is accompanied by an unidentified man and woman. Minor wear along the edges and corners, some spotting to verso; overall fine. 7.25 x 4.5 inches (18.4 x 11.4 cm.).
Stunning original silver gelating Sedge Le Blang photograph of the great African American contralto in her pathbreaking Metropolitan Opera debut as Ulrica, in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera. 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25.2 cm). Photographer's stamp on verso with notations, edges slightly worn, overall fine. Read More...
Original silver gelatin photograph of the iconic singer and actress, as captured by the 25-year-old Richard Avedon for Harper's Bazaar, 1948 around the time of the filming of The Foreign Affair, and depicting the actress with her famous and very problematic African lenci doll. On the original photographer's mount, signed "Avedon" in black ink beneath the photograph and with the photographer's stamp to mount verso. A few areas of expert restoration and retouching, overall in very fine condition. Print 10 7/16" x 11 7/16" ; mount 11 11/16" x 14 7/8". Framed to 26 x 19 inches (66.5 x 49 cm); 24 x 17 (61 x 43cm) overall. Read More...
19th century cabinet card photograph of the famous life mask by Franz Klein, this image issued by Julius A. Gross of Brooklyn. Margins slightly trimmed, else fine. 4.1 x 6.3 inches (10.5 x 16 cm.).
Sepia press photograph of two cast members from the original 1926 production of Eugene O'Neill's The Great God Brown, one of whom, dancer Margaret Severn, is wearing a mask by the famous Polish painter and designer. The typed press note mounted to verso is dated April 12, 1926, and reads, in part, "Margaret Severn who was the first dancer to use a Benda Mask on the stage, wearing her Benda Mask and Leona Hogarth who plays the leading feminine role in The Great God Brown, known as the play of masks, wearing the dramatic mask she uses in the play." Wide World Photos stamp to verso. Overall in fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
Striking and unusual original Harcourt of Paris photograph of Belgian violinist, a child prodigy who became internationally known as a teenager and whose virtuosity and pure lyrical expression earned her a place among the top international violinists. Small crease to right edge, else fine condition. 7 x 9.4 inches (18 x 24 cm.). Read More...
Charming International News Photos photograph of the Italian heavyweight boxer posing with his father. A typed press blurb to verso reads, "Sequals, Italy...This quiet little village is proud of its first citizen, Primo Carnera, current World's Heavyweight Champion and is glad that the big boy is back again in their midst, enjoying the rustic retreat that is the Carnera ancestral domicile. Here is 'Da Preem' himself giving his dad a practical demonstration of the art of fisticuffs, and demonstrating the lethal punch with which he won the title from Jack Sharkey, and—sadly, it must be mentioned—also with which he failed to rock the ancient and somewhat battle-scarred warrior Paulino Uzoudun to sleep in their meeting in Rome a few days ago. / K-10-27-33." Photographer's stamp and ink to verso, else in fine condition. 6.5 x 8.5 inches (16.5x 21.6 cm.). Read More...
Sepia International News Photos photograph of the Italian heavyweight boxer in the ring with matchmaker and promoter Jimmy Johnston. A typed press blurb to verso reads, "Miami, Florida...Primo Carnera is under the master's eye, and instruction here. He's getting a few pointers from James J. Johnston, Madison Square Garden fight impresario, As the picture was snapped James was introducing Primo to a new wallop to add to his bag of pugilistic tricks. The incident occurred at the training camp here of Da Preem, where he is conditioning for his meeting with Tommy Loughran. / K-2-17-34." Photographer's stamp to verso, with an additional later Cuban Spanish-language press clipping mounted to verso. In fine condition. 6.5 x 8.5 inches (16.5x 21.6 cm.). Read More...
Signed original Vandamm photograph of the French-American actor who found great success in American movies during the 1930s with performances in films such as The Garden of Allah, Algiers, Love Affair, and Gaslight. The four-time Academy Award nominee has penned his name in blue to the left edge of the photograph. Photographer's stamp to verso. Small area of surface separation in the lower right corner where slightly torn, mounting remnants to verso, otherewise in fine condition. 7.5 x 9.5 inches (19 x 24.1 cm.). Read More...
A very rare original mezzotint. Engraved by J. Simon after the original of John Wallaston and printed by Phil. Overton in 1703. The print is titled below the image, and includes the following laudatory verse by Matthew Prior: Read More...
Three postcard photographs of noted English singers Kennerley Rumford and Clara Butt, the married couple who toured together all over the English-speaking world. The pictures capture Rumford and Butt at the piano or posing with the first two of their three children. In very fine condition. 3.25 x 5.25 inches (8.2 x 13.3 cm.).
Evocative original photograph of the marvelous French pianist, stamped by the photographer, Henri Guilbaud of Versailles, on the verso. In fine condition. 9.5 x 6.75 inches (24 x 17 cm.).
An unusual and visually striking original 1927 doubleweight photograph of the great comedian. This image was later reproduced in the Chicago Tribune, under the headline "Movie Comedian Says He'll File Cross Bill: Charlie Chaplin and his Jap valet about to board Twentieth Century in Chicago on his way to see New York lawyer." 7.5 x 9.75 inches. Edges slightly chipped, stamps and notations on verso, else fine. Read More...
Star-shaped paper cutout featuring a half-tone Kubey-Rembrandt photograph of the incomparable French pianist. A fitting piece of ephemera for a fixture of the pianistic firmament. Light wear and one loss to the points of the stars, overall in fine condition. 8.5 x 8.5 inches (21.6 x 21.6 cm.).
Collection of four promotional photographs of the screen legend from the early and mid periods of her career, including promotional shots from the 1937 MGM films The Bride Wore Red and Mannequin, the 1952 Warner Bros. picture This Woman Is Dangerous, and the 1955 Universal picture Female on the Beach. The Bride Wore Read photograph with wear to edges and a two-inch vertical tear to lower portion (repaired with tape on verso), otherwise the group in fine condition. Each approx. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
Charming vintage postcard photograph by Kline Photo [no place, no date] of one Dancing Carl shown in a dance pose with arms extended front and backwards, one leg bent, the other kicked back, his name printed within the negative, inscribed by him in blue ink with a lengthy inscription on both sides. The smitten Carl, writes in part [all sic] on the recto, "Frum [Dancing Carl] To my darling sweetheart...the sweet girl in the world to me"; and to the verso, "honey hope you will like it / I will send you more that / if you want the....love you darling..." followed by the bulk of the lyrics to the 1934 Vee Lawnhurst & Tot Seymour song, "Accent on Youth," beginning "Why is the rose beginning to bud in Spring? / Why are the birds beginning to fly and sing? / And why have I this new sensation? / It's just the accent on youth! /Why do I year for kisses so fresh and so sweet?..." Read More...
Extraordinary collection of 115 original vintage unsigned glossy photographs of Bette Davis, almost all approximately 8 x 10 or 10 x 8 inches, including glamour shots, publicity photos, and movie stills, virtually all original to the periods represented. Among the films represented are All About Eve, Payment on Demand, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Another Man's Poison, Mr. Skeffington, Deception, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Beyond the Forest, Death on the Nile, and many others. In overall very good to fine condition.
Sepia photograph of the actress in a striking outfit with matching snakeskin pillbox hat, belt and pockets. Editorial marks used in preparing the photograph for publication are written in pencil to verso, together with a Spanish-language stamp for Arte Photoengraving and Drawings in Cuba. Light silvering, else in fine condition. 5.5 x 8.75 inches (14 x 22.2 cm.).
Original William Claxton photograph of the iconic singer and actress in her dressing room prior to a performance at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, 1955. Photographer's stamp to verso, together with a second stamp denoting that this particular print was Claxton's "Private Copy." Light wear to upper corners, overall in very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
Original doubleweight William Claxton photograph of the iconic singer and actress on stage during a performance at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, 1955. Dietrich is shown wearing one of several "nude" gowns custom designed for her by designer Jean Louis. Typical photographer's stamp to verso, together with a stamp denoting that this particular print was Claxton's "Private Copy." In very fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.). Read More...