Lengthy inscription and bold signature from the elegant Viennese pianist on the verso of the LP cover to his 1960 Schubert Impromtus recording. Dated May, 1964, he inscribes "To George --, one of the rare 'Schubert birds, in common admiration for this genius. Paul Badura Skoda." Fine.
Signed program from a January 7, 1959 piano-four-hands recital by the two Austrian pianists at Carnegie Hall. Both have signed boldly over the first page of the program listing, which included works by Mozart, Hindemith and Schubert. Demus' signature slightly smudged, but otherwise in very fine condition, together with a promotional flyer and two newspaper clippings about the concert. Program 23 pp., 7.25 x 9.75 inches (18.5 x 25 cm).
Carte de visite photograph of a Scottish piper, shown draped in his plaid. Photographed by J. Dryburgh of Dalkeith, Scotland. Rather heavily soiled; overall very good. 2.5 x 4 inches (6.3 x 10.4 cm).
Cabinet photograph, ca. 1910's, of Alistair MacWilkie, a Scotsman with an "eleven foot beard," signed and inscribed by MacWilkie in pencil on the verso: "World's Prize Whiskers / Yours truly Alistair MacWilkie, Perthshire, Scotland." Photographed by Frank Wendt of Boonton, N.J., MacWilkie is shown in his kilt, holding bagpipes and with his beard falling to the ground in front of him. Heavy vertical folding crease, with card split on the verso along the fold but intact on the surface of the photograph. Overall good. 4 x 6.5 inches (10.5 x 16.4 cm). Read More...
Madrid: Joachin Ibarra. 1775. First edition. 4to. [iv] 291 pp, lacking the folding plate of the keyboard, scattered foxing, but otherwise very good. Full leather binding, gilt stamped, title plate to spine partially cracked. Palau (21923) notes: "Es traduccion de la obra de Antonio Bemetzrieder y esta muy bien impresa" and the work is indeed beautifully printed, with musical examples throughout and including a charming engraving at the head of the first lesson, featuring three putti playing around a harpsichord. An interesting and unusual keyboard treatise written by a modestly important Spanish mathematician and architect.
Two signed photographs from the concert pianist, later the wife of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and an important philanthropist in the field of music. She is shown ca. 1920's and has inscribed one photograph to tenor Lawrence Strauss, dating London, July 11, 1928, and the other photograph to "my beloved Sally & Laurie," dating March 15, 1929. First photograph stamped on the verso by photographer Lenare of London, with some surface wear and corner creases, overall very good; second photograph fine. 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25 cm).
Signed photograph of the Russian-American conductor, violist, composer and educator, shown during his period as the Music Director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He has signed and inscribed at the lower right in Spanish, dating 1949. In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.2 x 25.2 cm).
Large format signed photograph of the American-born French entertainer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist who became a symbol of the decadent Jazz Age and played a leading role in the advancement of African Americans in the arts. A luminous image of the entertainer with her hands and arms artfully placed across her bare body, vintage glossy 6.5 x 8.5 photo by Studio Piaz of Paris, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, "A Monsieur Emile Dretinier, en souvenir de Josephine Baker, Paris, 1933.” In very good to fine condition, with trimmed edges, tack holes to the corners, light silvering, and mottled foxing. Baker's response to her own nudity: 'I wasn't really naked. I simply didn't have any clothes on.'
Signed postcard photograph of the legendary dancer and singer, who is shown in one of her trademark extravagant feathered costumes, and has signed across the image: "Souvenir de Josephine Baker / 1932." Fine. 3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.9 x 14 cm).
Signed vintage sepia Walery postcard photograph of the legendary African American entertainer. A full length portrait, boldly signed and inscribed in blue ink in 1937. 9 x 14 cm. Baker's death year of 1975 written in ink in the lower border (obviously in another hand), otherwise fine. Read More...
Vintage 8 x 10 inch doubleweight original photograph of the great singer/dancer "in a happy good mood when she arrives at London airport" in 1959. Fine.
Baker was most noted as a singer, while in her early career she was a celebrated dancer. She was given the nicknames the "Black Venus" or the "Black Pearl", as well as the "Créole Goddess" in anglophone nations, while in France she has always been known in the old theatrical tradition as "La Baker."
Grenoble: B. Arthaud,. 1935. Softcover color illustrated wraps; 118 pp., plus 8 plates. Signed and inscribed in ink on the half title by Rivolet "A Madame Marcelle, l'amie, l'aide et le conseil des jours de toutes les couleurs..." and signed additionally by Josephine Baker herself. Wrappers heavily worn, spine half torn, edge reinforced with tape, separated from the block; stain to upper right corner which continues to decreasing degree through about page 8 but is also visible throughout on the upper fore-edge. A troubled copy but nevertheless uncommon when signed by the legendary dancer, singer, and actress.
Striking vintage doubleweight glossy portrait of Baker posing beside a tiger skin rug, signed and inscribed in French in fountain pen, “à Mr Mario Mariotti / en souvenir de / Josephine Baker / Milano / 1932.” Some losses to edges and a small area at her extended wrist, but the imposing image is largely unaffected and it is otherwise in fine condition. 6.5 x 9.3 inches (16.5 x 23.6 cm.). Read More...
A stunning original serigraph poster designed by William McCaffery presenting a special One-Night-Only Tribute to Josephine Baker at the Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center on November 7th, 1976. The show celebrated the legendary entertainer little more than a year after her death on April 12, 1975, and featured performances by a star-studded cast including the Alvin Ailey Company, Muhammad Ali, Jacques d'Amboise, Ingrid Bergman, Myrna Loy, Jeanne Moreau and others. The poster is printed in black and copper ink, presenting Baker with a decorative winged background, a reference to her many extravagant feathered showgirl costumes. A few tears along the edges, else fine. Measures 24 x 36 inches (60.9 x 91.4 centimeters). Read More...
Autograph letter from the Russian painter and scene and costume designer, known for his extensive work for the Ballets Russes. 1 p. June 21, 1915. To architect and art critic Frantz Jourdain (1847–1935), Bakst writes (translated from the French): "Dear maître, I am very touched by your kind letter and thank you sincerely. I will act according to your advice. Until then, please believe my devoted and cordial sentiments. Leon Bakst." In very fine condition. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.3 x 17.3 cm).
Paris: Imprimerie Modern Style. P. Marmy. Oversize elaborate printed invitation to the 1911 Bal des Quat'z'Arts. The design by the French painter, illustrator and decorator H. Rapin, featuring a highly stylized illustration on Babylonian themes. 19 x 33 cm. Dampstained along the lower edge, left edge and upper margin chipped with a few small losses, else fine. Read More...
Signed photograph of the choreographer known as the father of American ballet. Stamp to lower margin reads "Nov. 27 1973." In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm).
Original photograph of the choreographer known as the father of American ballet and the great composer in discussion during a 1957 rehearsal for Agon. Various stamps on the verso, including for the later New York City Ballet Stravinsky festival in 1972. In very fine condition, together with a printed NYCB Press Office photograph mailer, ca. 1972. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
New York: A Theatre of Being. 1964. Scarce souvenir program from the 1964 production of Baldwin's The Amen Corner, which would briefly transfer to Broadway the following year. 32 pp. The cover features striking artwork rendered in yellow and black, and the program contains production photographs together with interviews of both the playwright and Frank Silvera, who directed and produced. Light wear to spine and top edge, some toning throughout; overall fine. 10 x 12 inches (25.4 x 30.5 cm.). Read More...
Grouping of three original ca. 1910 postcard photographs of ballet dancers in costume for various unidentified productions, issued in Florence, London, and Moscow. Minimal edge and corner wear, silvering to top half of one postcard, else fine. Approx.3.5 x 5.5 inches (8.8 x 13.5 cm.) each.