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.
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.
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.
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.
Signed Christmas card, ca. 1920's, from the important Hungarian violinist and pedagogue. On a printed card with a small design of the Magi, Auer has signed: "Many thanks for kind remembrance. L. Auer." Read More...
Signed Christmas card, ca. 1920's, from the important Hungarian violinist and pedagogue. On a printed card with a small design of an archway and a snowy landscape, Auer has signed: "Thank you most heartily for the beautiful flowers. L. Auer." Read More...
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).
Boldly penned autograph letter from the important fashion and portrait photographer to journalist Jeff Goldberg: "Dear Jeff, Anything you or 'People' can do around Sept. 7th to 10th (the show opens on the 10th) to help bring people's attention to it would be greatly appreciated by me." N.d.; 2 pp. on Avedon's letterhead, with original envelope postmarked July 2, 1975, and a copy of the press release announcing the new photography department of the Marlborough Gallery in New York and the inaugural exhibition of Richard Avedon's work (2 pp., June 16, 1975). In fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.3 cm). Read More...
Signed photograph postcard of the pioneering female aviator, the first woman to fly over the Andes between Chile and Argentina. Bolland is shown standing next to the propeller of her G3 in Mendoza on March 30, 1921, two days before her legendary flight from Mendoza to Santiago. She has signed with a flourish and noted the date and the route of her flight. In very fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.9 x 13.7 cm). Read More...
Signed photograph postcard of the Spanish pioneer of aviation, political figure and brother of later dictator Francisco Franco. Shown in his military uniform, Franco has signed at the right. In very fine condition. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.8 x 13.1 cm).
An unusual original 1963 photograph taken before the great French singer's Carnegie Hall recital. He is shown flanked by the jazz trumpeter and an unidentified man. 13 x 18 cm. Press clipping on verso, in fine condition.