Original photograph portrait of the Spanish dancer, actress, and courtesan Carolina "La Belle" Otéro. Her characteristic signature is printed in the corner of the image, and she has inscribed "Feliz Año Nuevo" in blue ink. Very slight crease and wear to the corners; otherwise in very fine condition. 9.1 x 14 cm. Read More...
Interesting press photograph of the marathon pianist Heinz Arntz, being shaved by a barber while attempting to set a world record by playing for 43 days straight. Arntz set previous records in 1931 and 1950. Original press captions on the verso in French and English, dated October 20, 1965. Wide white margin at foot; otherwise in fine condition. 15.2 x 20 cm.
Original 1938 press photograph of the famed Russian pianist and composer, warming his hands in an electric muff "during an interval in his performance at the Albert Hall, Nottingham." Dated March 22, 1938 on the verso, with original press caption. One small loss at the lower left, and some corner creases; light over painting to a few spots on the face; overall in very good condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.3 cm).
Original 1973 compilation album of the family singing group on whose story The Sound of Music was based, signed on the inside album cover by the family's matriarch, Maria von Trapp ("Maria Trapp.") In fine condition. Read More...
Charming original Christmas postcard with facsimile signature from the beloved Hollywood star and Air Force general. Addressed on the verso and postmarked December 18, 1939. 13.5 x 8 cm. Fine.
An original autograph holiday greeting from the composer to violinist Samuel Dushkin, with whom Stravinsky frequently performed and for whom he wrote his Violin Concerto and the Duo Concertante. On a card printed with sketches of Stravinsky conducting, by his daughter Milene Marion, Stravinsky has inscribed: "To Sam Dushkin, love and best wishes for a happy New Year 1954 from I. Stravinsky." Light toning; overall in very fine condition. 4.5 x 6.75 inches (11.8 x 17.1 cm).
Original doubleweight photograph of the American jazz vocalist and performer, signed and inscribed boldly in blue ink "New Year's Ain't Bad Especially '48 The Climax Maxine Sullivan." 8 x 10 inches. Tape remnants along the left edge, else fine. Read More...
89.
[Holiday Gifts]
[Tobacco]. Loi relative à la liberté de cultiver, fabriquer et débiter le tabac dans toute l'étendue du royaume. Donnée à Paris le 27 Mars 1791.
Lyon: Aimé de la Roche. 1791. 4to. 3 pp. A printed 1791 decree from the Assemblée Nationale, permitting the cultivation and trade of tobacco in France. An amusing gift for any smokers in your life!
An unusual diary gift set given by the legendary conductor, consisting of 4 small appointment books, an address book, and a leather cover printed on the inside flap in gold with the message, "Merry Xmas 1947 / Arturo Toscanini." in Toscanini's handwriting. The leather cover is embossed on the front cover with the initials E. V. and includes a small gold pencil. Manufactured by Cross and in the original gift box with tissue paper, the set has not been used and shows only light toning and wear and a slight rip to one of the flaps of the cover, otherwise in fine condition. An interesting souvenir of one of the greats. 3 x 4.5 inches (7.5 x 11 cm); box 5.25 x 4.25 inches (13.3 x 10.7 cm). Read More...
91.
[Holiday Gifts]
[Trumpet]. Cover your ears! - Original Press Photograph
Amusing original press photograph (ca. 1930's) of the six trumpet-playing Candreva brothers, probably nearly deafening the dancer posing in front of them. Original caption on the verso reads: "One of the Sunkist Beauties in Fanchon & Marco's 'Eyes' Idea showing the six Candreva Brothers just how the intricate steps she does in this 'Idea' are executed..." A great image in very fine condition. 10.125 x 8 inches (26.1 x 20.4 cm).
Charming Victorian era blue-on-white painting depicting a rabbit sitting on a pile of open sheet music, a tambourine and pipes, playing a small tuba! Initialed "G.T." at the lower left and dated 1863. Mounted on a leaf from a late-nineteenth-century commonplace book owned by Elizabeth Tatham, and possibly painted by her father, George Tatham. The owner has penned a humorous poem about matrimony above the image and affixed two applique figures at the foot. Mounted on the verso is a short poem about August. One small stain on the image, one tear at the foot of the page; overall in fine condition. 8.5 x 11 inches (23 x 28 cm).
93.
[Holiday Gifts]
[Vice] [Blaesi & Bell]. Set of Six 1905 Handsigned Skull Postcards warning against Vice
A graphically interesting series of six color postcards with costumed skulls and various symbols, apparently warning against vices such as cards, gambling, drinking and smoking. Each dated 1905, each hand signed by the artist AMC Bell in pencil lower right. The titles include "Pay Me," "Easy Street," "Whats the Use," "The Morning After," "Ahoy," and "In the Swim." All very fine.
94.
[Holiday Gifts]
[Violin]. Original Die-Cut Victorian Christmas Card
Charming original 1891 Victorian Christmas card, die-cut in a violin shape with the greeting, "Keep your bow well in hand this Yuletide." Addressed on the verso: "From Alfred I Bartram to Edith, Xmas 1891." Mounting remnants on the verso; overall in very fine condition, with the delicate shape well-preserved. 6 x 2.25 inches (15.6 x 6 cm).
95.
[Holiday Gifts]
[Violin]. Original Mute Violin
An original mute (or "practice") violin, with the pegs, fingerboard, bridge, tailpiece, and strings of a normal violin on an anchor-shaped frame, without a resonating space. Read More...
Original photograph of Louis Armstrong and the Esquire All Stars ca. 1944-5, signed by all six members of the band: Armstrong, Jack Teagarden (trombone), Barney Bigard (clarinet), Arvell Shaw (bass), Earl "Fatha" Hines (piano), and Cozy Cole (drums). The musicians are shown playing, and each has signed over their image in green or blue ink. All signatures are crisp and legible, with the exception of Cozy Cole, whose ink did not fully adhere. 8 x 10 inches. Fine. Read More...
Original doublewide (foldout) cover of the April 15, 1966 issue of Life Magazine (Volume 60, no. 15) with a fantastic image of the great Satchmo, signed and inscribed "Best Wishes To Tammy / Satchmo - Louis Armstrong." Approx. 19.5 x 13 inches, elaborately framed in a playful tri-color wood inlay frame to 22.5 x 15.75 inches. The complete magazine issue is included in a pocket on the frame verso, and features extensive 19-page article with numerous photos of Armstrong. Read More...
An interesting autograph note from the later years of the jazz legend's life, to his friend Jim Butler. Dated October 25, 1982 in his hometown of Yale, Oklahoma, the letter reports that Baker has been home in Oklahoma for eight days [after touring in Canada and Europe] and that "it's awfully quiet around here; you have no idea." Mentioning his wife Carol and his mother, Baker concludes, "Well, I just wanted to let you know that everything is cool." Together with a postcard of Baker playing. Read More...
Pair of vintage glossy 3.5 x 5.5 postcard photos of Baker in ‘La Creole,’ each signed in fountain pen, “Josephine Baker, 1936.” Both are individually mounted and matted to overall sizes of 14 x 17. In overall fine condition. Read More...
Vintage sepia postcard photograph of the legendary African American entertainer and singer. Issued by "Iris-Verlag," measuring 2.5 x 5.5 inches and in very fine condition.
Enormous original ink and watercolor portrait of Ringo by Heinz Edelmann, 31 x 47 inches, showing him in a Yellow Submarine-esque striped suit jacket against a psychedelic background. Framed and in very good condition, with scattered staining and soiling. Edelmann, a German illustrator and designer, is best known for his art direction and character designs for the Beatles' 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine. This work is unsigned and was presumably intended for some sort of display, possibly a performance set or event promotion. It may have been a preliminary draft for one of those things - we have puzzled over the name spelling and frankly don't know what to make it of it. We acquired this from a French collector, who likewise didn't know what to make of that feature. But the piece is certainly contemporary to the period and based on the confidence and style of the line and overall impression, we feel confident in ascribing this to Edelman himself. However, as the work is unsigned, we must allow for the possibility it may have been executed by another hand, possibly an assistant or imitator. In any event, impressive in size and style, this is an extraordinary Beatles piece.