An attractive original miniature collage of a bird, ca. 1850, executed in ink and feathers. The bird, carefully composed of real bird feathers, is shown perched on a miniature hill with trees. On a small sheet, mounted on a larger leaf. Slight rubbing and cracks; overall fine. 3.5 x 2.75 inches (9 x 7 cm), mounted to 8 x 7.5 inches (20.5 x 19.2 cm).
Group of 5 finely executed original pencil and watercolor drawings of birds, ca. 1850. The drawings, two in pencil and three in pencil with watercolors added, depict parrots and a pelican. Some light toning, but overall in fine condition. Two drawings ca. 5.5 x 7.5 inches (13.5 x 19 cm), three ca. 7 x 10.5 inches (18 x 27 cm).
Autograph postcard from the American painter, illustrator and sculptor. August 15, 1978. On a postcard of the illuminated castle in Heidelberg, he has penned: "Dear Steve, Not my work but I thought you might dig the picture. Happy days - Richard Artschwager." 5.75 x 4 inches (14.8 x 10.5 cm).
Signed program from the young pianist's Carnegie Hall debut on October 24, 1958. Ashkenazy has signed (in Cyrillic) over the first page of the program listing, which included Brahms' Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, as well as works by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff and Prokofiev. In very fine condition, together with two newspaper clippings about the recital, a photocopied sheet of further press clippings, and a promotional flyer. The New York Times judged: "Mr. Ashkenazy is a young poet of the piano. He is no thunderer. He does not seek to overpower with speed or brilliance... And whatever music he undertakes he performs with individuality." Program 19 pp., 7.25 x 9.25 inches (18.5 x 24.8 cm).
Signed photograph of the important Russian pianist, who is shown as a young man in an animated promotional photo for ICM Artists and has signed boldly at the right. In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.7 x 25.9 cm).
Original press photograph of the great Russian pianist looking happy with his wife, Þórunn (Dody) Jóhannsdóttir. Original press caption reads: "25-year-old Vladimir Ashkenazy, the Russian concert pianist, has been granted permission to remain in Britain with his wife and baby son." The Ashkenazys left the USSR after many struggles with the authorities over permission to travel and remained in England for several years before moving to Iceland in 1968. In fine condition. 20.5 x 25 cm.
Signed photograph of the writer and scientist, who is shown holding his E. E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction (awarded to him in 1967) and has signed and inscribed over the center: "To Anita with hugs and kisses / Isaac Asimov." He has added a further note over his hand: "See my award!" Photographed by Jay K. Klein, with photographer's credit on the verso. Some light edge wear; overall fine. 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25.3 cm).
Vintage doubleweight photograph of the great dancer/singer/actor who is pictured in the legendary "Dancing on the Ceiling" number in "Royal Wedding." The photo is boldly hand signed by Astaire in green marker. 7 x 9.5 inches.
A superb signed doubleweight 8 x 10 inch black-and-white photograph of the legendary dancer in the role of Bake Baker in the 1936 film "Follow the Fleet," which included some of Irving Berlin's most popular tunes. Boldly signed in black ink.
Original press photograph, ca. 1952, showing the great dancer and entertainer with one of the horses on his ranch. Press caption on the verso reads: "When Fred Astaire isn't in front of the cameras he can quickly be found at his Chatsworth ranch where the offspring of his famed horse Triplicate romp and roam..." One stain at the upper right; otherwise very fine. 8 x 10 inches (20 x 24.5 cm).
4313. Astruc, Gabriel. (1864 - 1938). Important Typed Letter, defending the "French-ness" of the Théatre des Champs Elysées
A highly intersting letter from the influential French playwright, journalist, theatre director and impresario, who supervised many important Ballets Russes programs, including the premiere of "Le Sacre du Printemps." Read More...
Lively signed postcard photograph of the Trinidad-born English pianist who was wildly popular with her boogie woogie and ragtime hits. 10 x 15 cm. A few dings, overall fine.
A scarce AMQS from the important violinist and influential pedagogue, teacher of Elman, Heifetz, Milstein, Zimbalist, Parlow, Schumsky and many others. Auer has penned the first three measures of his Romance in F major for violin and piano (op. 4), which was recorded a few years later by the young Heifetz in 1911. Signed and inscribed to the British violinist and composer "Miss Eva Spalding" (1882 - 1969), and dated London, July 8, 1908. On a small calendar leaf dated May 29. Top edge folded under; tape remnant at the left edge and on the verso, otherwise in very good condition. 5 x 2.5 inches (12.9 x 6.1 cm). Read More...
A very rare early signed carte de visite photograph of the important violinist, dating from 1861, when the sixteen-year-old Auer was beginning his studies with Joseph Joachim. He has signed and inscribed on the verso to Linna Sternberg (a relative of Belgian violinist Hermann Sternberg) and dated Brussels, March 13, 1861. 6.3 x 9.4 cm. Small loss to lower right corner, a few small surface losses to verso, one just touching the first letter of the inscription, else fine. Undoubtedly one of, if not THE, earliest signed photograph of the violinist. Read More...
Signed photograph of the important Hungarian violinist and pedagogue, inscribed to his student Jaroslav Siskovsky "in remembrance of his sojourn in Russia" and dated Christiania [Norway], July 20, 1917. Auer's summer masterclass took place in Christiania during the World War I years. Toning, some surface and edge wear, mount heavily toned. Overall very good. 6.75 x 8.75 inches (17 x 22 cm). Read More...
London: [c. 1780, based on publisher addresses]. Three 18th century publications of or related to the popular Scots ballad written by the poet Lady Anne Lindsay in 1772. Three folio pieces bound together, as follows: Read More...
Paris: Editions de la Sirene. 1920. First edition. Signed and inscribed on the title page: "A monsieur Paul Laffitte / bien cordialement / Georges Auric / Paris 23 octobre 1920. " Wrappers toned, generally fine. Read More...
A superb original black and white 1964 photograph of the French composer looking upwards with artist Marc Chagall at the Opéra de Paris. The ceiling area, which surrounds the chandelier, was given a new painting in 1964 by Chagall. Though it proved controversial, many people feeling Chagall's work clashed with the style of the rest of the theatre, the painting remains there today. Auric, part of the famous Les Six, was director of the Opéra from 1962. 18 X 23.5 cm.
Guest book for the famed Liberty Music Shop of New York, containing approximately 200 autographs and inscriptions, signed by distinguished visitors, a virtual who's who of the cultural life of 1950s New York. Written approximately 15 to a page on the first 14 pages, some with date or place or comments, concluding with a large bold signature by Marian Anderson, written diagonally across the blank page. Oblong 8vo, leatherette. New York, [1956-57]. The signers include Ernest Hemingway, Samuel Barber, Martha Graham, Anna Magnani, Hubert de Givenchy, Anthony Perkins, Fred Astaire, Hoagy Carmichael, Sarah Vaughan, Sammy Davis Jr., Bill Hayes (with an AMQS), Alan Jay Lerner (2x), Yul Brynner, Ogden Nash, Alfred Lunt, Lynn Fontaine, Andres Segovia, Margaret Hamilton, Tony Bennett, Myrna Loy, Edna Ferber, Zino Francescatti, Byron Janis, Farley Grainger, Rex Harrison, Broderick Crawford, Edward G. Robinson, George Szell, Jessica Tandy, Basil Rathbone, Claudette Colbert, Hazel Scott, Raymond Massey, Michel Auclair, Alexander Smallens, Kate Smith, James Mason, Ray Bolger, Benny Goodman, Noël Coward, Joan Blondell, Arnold Stang, Constance Talmadge, Garson Kanin, Mischa Elman, Erica Morini, Connee Boswell, Mario del Monaco, Robert Helptmann, Andor Foldes, Marta Eggerth, Vincent Price, Lillian Gish, Paulette Goddard, J. William Fulbright and dozens more. Read More...
Signed self-portrait sketch from the Italian bass who debuted at La Scala in 1924 and also performed around Europe; in the model of Enrico Caruso, he was a talented caricaturist. He has sketched himself in profile on a sheet of letterhead from the Grand Hotel in Vienna, signed below and dated August 2, 1934. A clipped halftone photograph has been added at the lower left. Some light toning and foxing at the corners; overall fine. 5 x 7.25 inches (13 x 18.6 cm).