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...
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...
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.
New York: Avon Books. 1996. First edition, first printing. . Hardcover with dustjacket, 6.5 x 9.5, 336 pages. Boldly signed on the half-title page in blue felt tip, “B. B. King.” In fine condition, with some trivial wear to the dustjacket.
Silver and Mother-of-pearl Belt Buckle,in the shape of a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, inscribed on reverse "B.B.", thought to have been given by King to fellow guitarist J. Geils, with whom he toured in the 1970s. Provenance: The Estate of J. Geils. Approx 5 x 1.8 inches, with an associated leather belt. Read More...
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. 1954. Signed book on the New York City Ballet from the prolific writer and dance critic. He has signed and inscribed to Paul McMahon on the page opposite the title. The volume contains many full-page photographs by Paul Himmel. 192 pp. Hardcover, quarter cloth, with dust jacket; wear and some losses to the dust jacket; overall in very good condition. 10 x 11 inches (26 x 28.5 cm). Read More...
14883. [BASSOON] Ozi, Etienne. (1754-1813). Nouvelle méthode de basson par Ozi [...] Adoptée par le Conservatoire pour servir à l'étude dans cet etablissement [...] Gravée par Md. Le Roy.
Paris: Imprimerie du Conservatoire de Musique. [1803]. Method for the bassoon by the influential French bassoonist and composer. Engraved throughout. With one folding plate ("Tablature du Basson") including two illustrations of the bassoon and additional illustrations accompanying textual commentary at conclusion. Rare. [4], ii, 145 p. illus., 1 foldout plate. Two later labels on the title page, of "Lippi, Luthier," and "Jean-Baptiste Laprevotte, Facteur d'Orgues et de Serinettes," partially obscuring the original publisher's imprint. Blue paper boards with handwritten front label. Heavy overall wear and tears to the boards and spine; volume slightly warped. Area of damp staining to the lower edge of the pages throughout, especially strong on the folding plate. However, structurally sound and internally otherwise in very good condition. 10 x 13 inches (25 x 33 cm). Read More...
Parma: Co I Tipi Bodoniani. 1796. First edition. 8vo. Original white wrappers. (8), 30, pp., with the last blank. A very good copy of the original edition of this elegant collection of Italian poems by Giovanni Rosini, beautifully printed by Bodoni. The booklet is dedicated to the marquise Vittoria Torrigianni Santini. Brooks 629 'Ravissante impression bodonienne'; Gianni, Cat., p. 56, Nr. 77; Vita del Giov. Bodoni (1816), p. 101. Read More...
Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press. 1987. Collection of the important composer's lectures given in 1983 in Madison, Wisconsin. Signed and inscribed on the front free endpaper to his frequent collaborator, violinist Paul Zukofsky: "For Paul, / who doesn't need it, / With affection, / Milton / 6/5/90." 205 pp. Hardcover, purple cloth with dust jacket. Creases and edge wear to dust jacket; internally fine. With several post-it notes with personal anecdotes and jokes relating to Babbitt ("MBB") in the hand of Paul Zukofsky laid in. 7.25 x 10.5 inches (18.3 x 26.3 cm). Read More...
An amusing ca. 1900 French postcard featuring a bizarre collage of little babies "playing" orchestral instruments. Some writing in French along the lower border and verso, dated 1903.
Autograph copy of a psalm and hymn text in the hand of the 19th-century German composer and organist (unrelated to J. S. Bach), an important member of the musical life of Berlin and a teacher of the young Mendelssohn. Bach has written out the German text of a piece for choir and winds by Friedrich Schneider, "Jehowah! Dir frohlockt der König." 51 lines in ink and pencil in three sections, the first two headed "Psalm" and "Hymnus," and the final section in pencil with some strikethroughs and corrections. 3 pp. Unsigned, undated [ca. 1830's]. In delicate condition with creases and some significant tears, writing in pencil on the final leaf, overall good. 8.5 x 10.75 inches (22 x 27.2 cm).