Brief autograph letter in English signed "Samuel Beckett" to Michael Mones, an advertising executive who handled theatrical accounts and from whom Beckett had requested some posters done for one of his plays. Paris, November 13, 1984; 1 p. on personal stationary card. The playwright writes, in full, "Thank you for your letter and for your kind attention to my request re posters for Mr. Magan." Card with several heavy creases around the edges, mostly not affecting the written areas, overall in fine condition. 5 x 3 inches (12.7 x 7.6 cm.). Together with the original canceled Air Mail envelope.
Original playbill from the Broadway debut of Beckett's absurdist play at the John Golden Theatre, beginning on April 19, 1956. Starring Bert Lahr (also the original Cowardly Lion), the play had opened in Florida in January 1956 and bombed, before its more successful Broadway production that spring. Overall age wear and one vertical crease, but otherwise in very good condition. 20 pp. 6.5 x 9 inches (16.5 x 23 cm).
Bust portrait photograph of the British conductor, signed with his name alone in black ink. Signature somewhat low contrast, else in fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.).
Atmospheric original Erich Salomon of Den Haag gelatin silver print of the British conductor leading an ensemble in performance. Beecham has inscribed "To Theo Laude [?] / Sir Thomas Beecham / Bart" to front. Photographer's stamp to verso. Signature low-contrast, some spotting to image, overall in fine condition. 5.25 x 5 inches (13.3 x 12.3 cm.).
D.S., Thomas Beecham, three pages, folio, London, 30th January 1933. The partially printed document, in French, is issued by the Covent Garden Opera Syndicate, Royal Opera, Covent Garden, London, for the year 1933, and is a contract engaging Beecham's services as 'Chef d'Orchestre et Directeur Artistique' from 1st May - 10th June 1933 for the sum of 'un mille francs (£1000) pour la saison.' Boldly signed at the conclusion. Some light age wear, else fine. Together with a vintage postcard photograph.
Original 1959 photograph of the dynamic and celebrated British conductor as he arrived at the London Airport on the eve of his 80th birthday. In very fine condition. 20.5 x 25.5 cm.
A remarkable original presentation photograph in original photographer's folder/mount, stamped "Swaine, 146 New Bond St.W. and at Southsea," photograph measuring an impressive 16.5 x 6.3 inches (42 x 16 cm.). The photograph shows the entire orchestra -all men - assembled in a large dining hall, in their most elegant attire, seated at 6 long tables. Sir Thomas may be see standing along the far right wall, with his eyes closed. We do not know on which occasion this image was taken, but it may include additional musical luminaries, as there seem to be more than a single orchestra's worth of attendees.
Paramount Pictures promotional photograph of the American actress surrounded by a retinue of handsome young men, including a pre-fame John Payne third from the left (best known for his role as Fred Gailey in Miracle on 34th Street), as well as by James Ellison, Lee Bowman, Richard Denning and James Craig. 1937. Fine. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.). Read More...
New York: Harry Von Tilzer Music Pub. Co.. 1903. Sheet music, 13 1/2 x 10 3/4. 1903. 5 pp. Edges a little worn, lightly creased, period pen initials on inset photo, overall good. Read More...
18222. Beethoven, Ludwig van. (1770–1827). Grand Concerto pour le Pianoforte avec Accompagnement de l'Orchestre compose et dedie a Son Altesse Imperiale Roudolphe Archi-Duc d'Autriche etc....[No. 5, in E flat major] . . . Ouev. [sic] 73.
Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel. [1811]. First German edition, first issue. . Upright folio [piano part only]. Disbound. 1f. (title), 3-42 pp. Price: "4 Rthlr." Engraved throughout. [PN] 1613. Ticket of the Rotterdam publisher L. Plattner overlayed on title printed Breitkopf publisher identification. Tempo of last movement: "Allegro ma non troppo." Small stain along the upper edge throughout, small tears along left edge, occasional markings in (contemporary?) pen and red ink in blank margin, else a very clean copy. First German edition, first issue. Kinsky p. 196; Hoboken 2, 332; Hirsch, IV, 319. Read More...
19999. Beethoven, Ludwig van. (1770–1827). Quintuor pour deux Violons, deux Violes et Violoncelle composé par Louis van Beethoven. Oeuvre 118.
Brunswick: Magazin de Musique de Spehr. 1818. Upright folio. [PN] 1122. Complete printed scores in five parts. Engraved throughout. An arrangement of Beethoven's Piano Trio Op. 1 No. 1 for string quintet. Violino primo: Title, Music (2–13), blank. Violino secondo: blank, Music (2–8). Viola prima: blank, Music (2–7), blank. Viola seconda: blank, Music (2–7), blank. Violoncello: blank, Music (2–7), blank. With a later publisher's ticket "Chez L. Plattner a Rotterdam" laid over the original imprint on title, with ownership stamp "P.J. Le Coultre Enkhuizen" to the title page and some other parts, and a bookplate "P. Lecoultre" on front of later plain paper wrappers with mounted manuscript ticket on front cover. Occasional fingerings in pencil throughout the Violino primo and Violoncello scores, mild dampstaining to upper half, five-inch split along plain wrapper spine, overall in fine condition. Read More...
Mayence: Charles Zulehner. [ca. 1805]. Upright folio Disbound. 1f. (title), 1-9 pp. Engraved throughout. [PN] 67. Ticket of the Rotterdam publisher L. Plattner overlayed on title printed Charles Zulehner publisher identification. A few small stains and stamps to title edges, else a very clean and crisp copy. Kinsky p. 120. Read More...
21338. Beethoven, Ludwig van. (1770–1827). Sinfonie mit Schluß-Chor...125tes Werk. [Symphony IX] - Rare Early 20th-Century Facsimile of Beethoven's 9th Symphony
Leipzig: Kistner und Siegel. 1924. First edition. Sinfonie mit Schluß-Chor über Schillers Ode "An die Freude" für großes Orchester, 4 Solo und 4 Chor-Stimmen, componiert und seiner Majestät dem König von Preußen Friedrich Wilhelm III. in tiefster Ehrfurcht gewidmet ... 125tes Werk. Facsimile of the autograph manuscript full score in the Preußischen Staatsbibliothek Berlin. Large folio (16 x 16 inches; 41 x 41 cm). 402 pp. A desirable and rare early 20th century collotype facsimile of Beethoven's manuscript, one of only 150 copies issued. The original single sheets have each been reproduced in their original formats, with Beethoven's red pencil corrections also reproduced in color. Original cardboard box (bumped, partly loosened at the joints and edges, somewhat rubbed and stained) with mounted front cover title. First sheet with foxing and small edge tear, lacking the printed title sheet but including the printed publisher's printed notice and otherwise in fine condition throughout. Kinsky-Halm 374. Read More...
Single sheet black-bordered invitation to Beethoven's funeral, the text composed by Beethoven's life-long friend Stephan von Breuning. Vienna, March 29, 1827. Printed on heavy paper, cut by hand, measuring 19.2 x 13.1 cm. "...Man versammelt sich in der Wohnung des Verstorbenen im Schwarzspanier-Hause Nr. 200, am Glacis vor dem Schottenthore. / Der Zug begibt sich von da nach der Dreyfaltigkeits-Kirche / bey den P. P. Minoriten in der Alsergasse. Die musikalische Welt erlitt den unersetzlichen Verlust des berühmten Tondichters am 26. März 1827 Abends gegen 6 Uhr. / Beethoven starb an den Folgen der Wassersucht, im 56. Jahre seines Alters, nach empfangenen heil. Sacramenten ...“ Read More...
Original Philharmonie-Concert-Zeitung dated 31 October 1889 for an all-Beethoven program, including the Trio in B-flat major, Piano Sonata in F minor, Op. 57, Sonata for Piano and Violin in A major, the Romances in G and F major for violin, and the Trio in D major, all performed by Heinrich Barth, Heinrich de Ahna, and Robert Hausmann, who had been performing subscription concerts as a trio since 1878. This Beethoven-Abend was part of a new series of 'popular' (cheap) concerts they'd started at the Philharmonie earlier in the same year. The trio would continue performing together for another 20 years, with de Ahna replaced upon his death in 1892 by Emanuel Wirther. Most of the booklet is dedicated to advertisements for every sort of local business you can imagine, from chocolatiers to harmonium sellers and lamp oil providers to fan repairmen. Light wear and surface creases along spine, else fine, 20 pp., 5.5 x 8.75 inches (14 x 22.25 cm.). Read More...
Bonn: N. Simrock. [1802]. Upright folio. Disbound. 1f. (title with engraving of wreath, ribbon); verso of title page notice in French and German regarding the three manners of performing the work; 3-27 pp. Price: "10 francs." Engraved throughout. [PN] 187. Left edge rough, first (title) and final leaves separated from the block, else a very clean and crisp copy. Kinsky p. 35. Read More...
Paris: Chez Mlles. Erard. [1801]. First French Edition. Upright folio Disbound. 1f. (title), 1-17 pp. Price: "6." Engraved throughout. [PN] 22. Ticket of the La Haye publisher F.T. Weigano overlayed on title printed Erard publisher identification. With the publisher's handwritten authentication signature "[C.?] Erard" in ink l.r.. Left edge a little rough, many pages with early paper fill repairs along the inner margin, two pages with tears in margins to just outside the plate, else a very clean and crisp copy. Kinsky p. 30. Read More...
13399. Beethoven, Ludwig van. (1770–1827). Siebente Grosse Sinfonie in A dur von Ludwig von Beethoven. 92tes Werk. Vollstandige Partitur. [Full Score]
Vienna: S. A. Steiner. [1816]. First Edition, First Issue. First edition of the Seventh Symphony, preceding the parts issue. 224 pages, 4to (c.24.5 x 20 cms), engraved title and dedication leaf to Moritz von Fries, lithographed music, plate no.2560, unpriced on title. The prodigy organist William Crotch's signed copy dated August 1827. Later three-quarters morocco gilt, untrimmed. 10 1/4 x 8 inches (26.2 x 21 cm); with engraved title, dedication and pages 2-224 of lithographed music (p. 1 blank). Old dampstain to gutter causing short split to lower gutter margin and affecting first leaves, small paper replacement to lower right corner of title, p. 39, and final leaf, early London bookseller's stamp to title, spotted throughout, the binding rubbed along joints and extremities. [Hoboken 396; Fuld, p.561; Kinsky, p.259; Hirsch IV.346] Read More...
13726. Beethoven, Ludwig van. (1770–1827). Grand Quatuor de Violon, composé et arrangé pour le Piano Forte à quatre mains [String Quartet, Op. 59, No. 1]
Bonn and Cologne: N. Simrock. [1824]. First Edition of this arrangement. Beethoven's string quartet Op. 59, no. 1, the first of his "Razumovsky" quartets, arranged for piano four hands. Oblong folio. Lithographed. [Pn] 2119. 39 pp. Closely trimmed, lower right edges with significant handling wear and small losses from turning, else fine. Arrangement by C.D. Stegman (Kinsky, 142). Read More...
13728. Beethoven, Ludwig van. (1770–1827). QUATUOR / No. V. / de / van / L. van Beethoven, / arrangé / Pour le Piano-Forte / à quatre mains
Leipzig: Breitkopf & Härtel. [1821]. First edition of arrangement for piano 4 hands. Beethoven's string quartet no. 5 in A major, op. 18, no. 5, arranged for piano four hands. Oblong folio. 24.5 x 33 cm. Lithographed. [PN] 3221(odd pages only). Title; Music (2-35 pp.), blank. Scattered foxing throughout especially to early and late pages, light water stain to upper quarter of last 10 pages, closely trimmed along the upper edge without losses to music. Read More...