Vintage pearl-finish Piccagliani photo of Callas as she appeared in Un Ballo in Maschera at La Scala 1957, signed and inscribed in blue fountain pen in Italian to the lower blank margin. In fine condition, with some light creases and mounting remnants to verso. 4 x 5.75 inches; 10.4 x 14.7 cm. Read More...
Vintage pearl-finish Piccagliani photo of Callas as she appeared in Un Ballo in Maschera at La Scala 1957, signed with her name alone in blue fountain pen across the image. In fine condition, moderate contrast to some of the signature and mounting remnants to verso. 3.75 x 5.5 inches; 9.4 x 13.7 cm. Read More...
A rare signed halftone Houston Rogers photograph from La Divina's performances of "Tosca" at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 1964. A single sheet removed from the February 8, 1964 issue of The Illustrated London News, small tears, creases and mounting remnants around the edges of the sheet have been matted out of view, a few small blemishes to the image showing, else fine. The full sheet 10 x 13 inches, photograph 8.7 x 10.9 inches (25 x 34cm; 22 x 28 cm). Archivally matted with only the image showing, 11 x 14 inches overall. Signed photographs of Callas of this size are very uncommon. Read More...
Paris: Calmels Chambre Cohen. 2000. Large 4to volume in French and English, picturing and describing all 417 lots offered for sale in December 2000 in Paris by Calmels Chambre Cohen, including letters to Callas, reviews and magazine cover stories she had collected as well as antique furniture, paintings and domestic objects, corsets, nightgowns, dresses, hats and shoes, pyrex kitchen wear etc.!! Includes introduction and lengthy descriptive articles on the collections, photographs mostly in color. Gorgeous 415 p. catalogue/book with jacket, both very fine.
Oversize window card advertisement for an evening of performance from the superstar opera soprano and tenor at Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis, IN, dated March 5 at 8 P.M. [1974]. Striking layout, with bright red text over an understated black and white portrait. Edge wear, hanging hole upper edge, else fine, 14 x 22 inches (35.6 x 55.9 cm.).
Signed Christian Steiner photograph of the superstar opera soprano and tenor, dated the year of their historic tour together. Inscribed and signed by Callas and signed by Di Stefano. 5 x 7 inches (13 x 17.8 cm). Light surface scratches, overall in fine condition. Read More...
Evocative and colorful poster designed by Aligi Sassu for the 1973 Teatro Regio Torino production of Verdi's "I Vespri Siciliani." This special new production was in celebration of the reopening of the theatre after some 37 years since it had been destroyed in the Second World War. The opera was directed by Maria Callas, assisted by the tenor Giuseppe di Stefano. It was the only production ever directed by Callas. Read More...
Stunning hat with Veil by the Italian designer Biki, known especially as the favorite designer of La Divina. From the Estate of Maria Callas, through her longtime cook and confidante, Elena Pozzan. This spectacular item from the height of Callas's glamorous stardom was acquired by Schubertiade Music LLC at Bloomsbury Auction House in Rome, Italy (Sale: ROMA-7, 26th October 2007, lot 102) and is guaranteed to have been owned and worn by Maria Callas. Read More...
Elaborate calligraphic album with 200 alphabetically ordered hand-painted quotations from Shakespeare's plays in German translation (translators not identified). 71 leaves; writing on recto pages only, verso pages blank. Text in Fraktur. Lowercase letters and punctuation in black ink; capital letters oversized (like initials) and highly ornate in red and blue ink; lines in blue ink. Title pages for each letter of the alphabet with the letter as a large glyph in red ink, silver and gilt (no entries beginning with C, Q, X, Y, Z; I and J are treated as one letter). Rhymed dedicatory statement to leaf preceding title by the compiler (translated from German): "To stop boredom, to prevent from whimsies, quotations from Shakespeare's works are intended to soothe pain and strengthen the nerves. If I have succeeded in doing so here and now, I have achieved what I intended, Jos. Goldschmidt, May 1922." Dark brown marbled boards with padding; dust jacket of light brown, parchment-like paper. 7.5 x 6.75 inches (19 x 17 cm). Front endpaper crushed, with some loss. Multiple leaves torn, with occasional slight loss; most tears repaired. Read More...
A vintage 8 x 10 inch original promotional portrait of Calloway pictured in a broad brimmed hat, signed and inscribed in blue ink "To...Best Wishes, Hi-di-Ho Cab Calloway." In fine condition.
Autograph signature inscribed "Hi-di-ho" from the American jazz singer and bandleader strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer.
Signed 9.5 x 12.5 inch Bloom of Chicago photograph of the American jazz singer, bandleader and dancer, who has inscribed "To Carol, Best Wishes, Yeah Man, Cab Calloway.” Signed photographs of Calloway in this size are uncommon. Trimmed edges, a crease to the upper left, and silvering to the background, else fine.
Superb signed 1951 photograph of the singer, composer, and bandleader, shown in a conducting pose with his baton. He has boldly signed in black ink and inscribed to Paul McMahon. Light wear to corners, stray ink mark to lower margin, otherwise in very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25.5 cm). Read More...
Attractive hand-colored postcard New Year's card, showing the great French soprano as Carmen, surrounded by a landscape cartouche and decorative flowers and vines. The card issued by Reutlinger of Paris, printed "Bonne Année." 9 x 14 cm, addressed in an unidentified hand and postally cancelled 1906 on the verso, and in fine condition.
ALS from the Italian tenor to [Ippolito] Canedi, letting the concert promoter know that he is available to perform from the Autumn through the following Lent. Milan, May 30 1845; 1 p. Campanini writes, translated in part from the Italian, "I advise you that I am free from Autumn through all of Lent, so if you go to Florence with me, you can hire me and I hope that this time it will do business." The recipient's address in London to upper right corner of verso. Expected mailing folds and light toning, else in fine condition. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.4 x 17.8 cm.). Read More...
TLS written on behalf of the French author and philosopher by a secretary at Gallimard, Camus' publisher, to Professor Irma Antonetto of the Associazione Culturale Italiana, declining an invitation to speak. Paris, 9 October 1950; 1 pp. on Gallimard stationary. In part (translated from the French), "Sadly, Monsieur Albert Camus, ill for the last year, is currently convalescing, and his health does not allow him the movement and fatigue involved in a conference." Expected mailing fold, two holes to left margin, else fine. 5 x 8 inches (12.7 x 20.3 cm.). Read More...
Unusual animated hand-colored engraving of the French singer and actress Polaire, who appears to lift the skirt of her dress when the tab to verso is pulled gently downward. Some creases along right edge that do not interfere with the image, otherwise in remarkable condition. 6.5 x 8.75 inches (16.5 x 22.2 cm.). Read More...
Amusing original flyer issued by the Startup Candy Co. of Provo, Utah, expounding on the merits of the letter "e": "...'e' is never in war, always in peace. It is the beginning of existence, the commencement of ease and the end of trouble... It might have been said, also, that 'e' is twice found in confectionery, one of the best of the good things of life." 2 slight scuffs; overall in very good condition. 6.5 x 3.5 inches (16.1 x 8.8 cm). Read More...
Promotional matchbook cover for the 1939 re-release of the 1936 "Daring Marihuana Expose" anti-marijuana film, also released as "The Marijuana Story." The exterior features a graphic of a shadowy smoking man and swooning woman in front of a "Reefer" cigarette, the text reading "Deals Wild, Mad Thrills At A Price - A Puff...A Party...A Tragedy." Folding creases and some light wear; overall very good. 1.5 x 4.5 inches (3.8 x 11.5 cm).
London: Big O Posters Ltd. [1964]. 30 x 20 inches, 76 x 50 3/4 cm. Striking metallic poster printed on foil, the design by Martin Sharp, promoting a Legalize Pot Rally and promoting it as "The Putting Together of the Heads." High Art, p. 124. This example of the famous poster from the collection of former Beatle, Ringo Starr.