Remarkable vintage 10 x 8 inch glossy publicity photograph of the Esquire All Stars, the first well-known integrated music ensemble, together only about a year but who opened up the white supper club circuit to black performers. Boldly signed and inscribed in green ink by Armstrong and Jack Teagarden and signed additionally in blue ink by Arnell Shaw, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Cozy Cole and Barney Bigard. Small tear to lower margin extending just to edge of Armstrong's signature, otherwise in very fine condition.
Charming and unusual original January 31, 1961 photograph with a press clipping on the verso: "Look closely and you might see the Sphinx blink, as Louis (Satchmo) Armstrong belts out a trumpet solo from atop a camel near Egypt's famed pyramid at Giza, outside Cairo." This photo originates from the archives of the St. Petersburg (FL) Times. Trimmed to 6 x 9.5 inches, otherwise fine.
8 x 10 inch original glossy photograph of the British dancer and choreographer noted particularly for works he created for the Royal Ballet in the 1960s. Ashton is shown on stage, taking a bow with, among others, Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. Signed boldly in blue ink in the blank lower margin and also signed by the photographer (W. Reilly '84) on the verso. In very fine condition.
An unusual piece of ephemera from the celebrated Greek pianist. Bachauer's British passport, 32 pages recording her many travels, two upper cover corners clipped, a few pages diagonally stamped 'CANCELLED.' Issued in her name "Mrs. Louise Sherman," with the notation added "Professionaly known as Gina Bachauer," and with her rather vampish ID photograph and autograph signature.
Paris: Editions Sibonet. 1945. 323 pp with photographs and a facsimile reproduction of a letter from Charles de Gaulle expressing his gratitude for her valor and commending her for her invaluable contributions to the struggle for a free France. Inscribed on the front free endpaper to Madeleine Renaud: ''Avec mes meilleurs souvenirs votre Josephine Baker 1946." Original bright yellow and red printed wrappers, bound in half crimson leather over brown morocco, gilt-stamped at spine. Inner front hinge broken but block still well-attached and otherwise in very fine condition throughout. Sold together with a photographic advertisement card for a Baker performance at the Club des Champs-Elysees, presumably where the book was inscribed. Read More...
An extraordinary signed vintage sepia postcard photograph of the legendary entertainer shown in seated profile, fully in the nude, boldly signed in black ink and dated 1929. 10 x 15 cm and set in a fanciful layered mat creating an Art Deco effect. Very fine. Read More...
Large and unique original pencil caricature drawing of the legendary African American entertainer and singer. A remarkable drawing by the artist Raoul Cabrol, dubbed by no less than Winston Churchill as "le premier caricaturiste de France." 49 x 31 cm, trimmed by Cabrol in outline of the drawing, mounted to a red paper backing, signed lower right. In very fine condition.
Signed postcard photograph of the "King of the Baritones," generally considered to be one of the great figures in 20th century vocal history. A contemplative portrait of the singer, shown in profile, seated and studying a score. Signed "Battistini," 8.5 x 13.5 cm. Sold together with a vintage German "Gramola - Grammophon" brochure with photographs on both sides and listing his recent recordings.
Rare silvered medal issued for the "Grosses Musikfest in der Beethoven-Halle zu Bonn / 28-30. Juni / 1886." Unsigned, with a right-facing bust portrait of Beethoven on the recto and on the obverse, the festival information, circumscribed by the announcement of the premiere of Max Bruch's "Achilleus" with a list of the distinguished participants, including Hanfstangl, A. Joachim, E. Goetze, G. Henschel, E. d'Albert etc.
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.).
Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel. [1810]. First edition. 13 pages (25 x 32.5cm), lithographed music. [PN]1566, priced at "16 gr.". Later blue paper wrappers, contained in a modern cloth folding box. In fine condition, with a few small tears, expertly repaired, outer leaves on guards. Hoboken 339. Kinsky p. 207. Read More...
Vienna: Artaria und Comp.. [1832/33]. 59 pages, 4to (c.31.5 x 24.8cm). Engraved throughout, [PN] 2588. Priced at "3 f. 12 x C.M." and including the "Catalogue des Oeuvres." Printed from the plates of the first edition. Scattered foxing throughout, spine a little rough, ownership signature "Burney" [possibly a relation of Fanny or Charles?]. Hoboken 437. Kinsky p. 295 [3]. Read More...
34. Beethoven, Ludwig van. (1770–1827). Vier Arietten und ein Duett (italienisch und deutsch) mit Begleitung des Pianoforte…(Der unterlegte deutsche Text ist von Dr. Chr. Schreiber.) Op.82.
Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel. [1811]. First edition. Typeset oblong folio, 16 pp. [PN] 1474, printed on pages 3, 5 and 7 only. Kinsky pp.220-22; Hoboken Vol.2, No.360. Read More...
Attractive signed autograph quotation from the great Italian soprano, verismo legend of the Golden Age and creator of both Santuzza in Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" and of the title role in Giordano's "Fedora." She was also the first Italian Salome. In very fine condition, the quotation reads: "L'arte e l'amore sono il piu bel dono di Dio all sue creature! Gemma Bellincioni / Graz, 1896." ["Art and love are the most beautiful gifts of God to his creations!"] In fine condition, 10 x 17.5 cm.
Original early three-quarter length portrait of the important French composer by the Carjat & Cie. studio. One corner of mount lightly creased, overall in very fine condition. 6 x 10.5 cm.
Paris: Henry Lemoine. [ca. 1855]. Second edition. Contenant le tableau exact de l'étendue, un apperçu du mécanisme et l'étude du timbre et du caractère expressif des divers instruments accompagné d'un grand nombre d'exemples. Large upright folio. 312 pp. Lithographed. [PN] 996 (14518 HL on pages 1-2). Original self-printed yellow boards, half red cloth. Boards somewhat soiled and bumped, scattered minor foxing, otherwise fine. Read More...
1903 art nouveau bronze plaquette made by Dupré to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the composer's birth. On the front to Berlioz’s right is the score of Les Troyens and a scroll with Latin text "INSANO CASSANDRAE INCENSUS AMORE" ["INFLAMED WITH AN INSANE LOVE FOR CASSANDRA"]. On the verso the caption reads: "Grenoble et La Côte Saint André A Hector Berlioz." Both sides of the plaquette are signed G Dupré. 67 x 47 mm. Somewhat rubbed, overall fine.
Signed postcard photograph of the Russian/American pianist, an Essipova pupil who toured the world (some 2,500 performances!) before settling at Boston University in 1956. Signed and inscribed to the noted Columbian musicologist, Otto de Greiff (1903 - 1995). In very fine condition.
Scarce signature of the Italian mezzo-soprano castrato, one of 18th century's most important opera singers, boldly penned at the conclusion of a receipt. DS, in Italian, signed 'Gaetano Majorano,' one page, 8.75 x 6.25, February 22, 1762. In fine condition, with few spots of toning and edge toning. Read More...