New York: Gershwin Publishing Corporation. 1935. First edition, second issue. The Theatre Guild presents Porgy and Bess. Libretto by Du Bose Heyward Lyrics by Du Bose Heyward and Ira Gershwin Settings by Sergei Soudeikine Orchestra Conductor Alexander Smallens Production Directed by Rouben Mamoulian. [Piano-vocal score]. Small folio. Original publisher's stiff printed grey wrappers with black cloth spine. 4ff. (photographic portrait; r. title, v. woodcut illustration of donkey pulling a man in a cart; r. Index of Scenes, v. Cast of Characters; r. Story of Porgy and Bess, v. dedication), 559 (music), [i] (blank) pp. Fuld p. 539. First Edition, second issue with the index of songs but still without the capitalization of "Negro," in the fourth line of the story. Light toning to covers, small tear to upper edge, overall an unusually fine copy overall of this rare score. Read More...
Lausanne, Switzerland: Éditions du Cervin. 1953. First. Collection of ten transcribed conversations between the Lithuanian-born French pianist and the French violinist about Ravel's piano music. Octavo. Original wrappers. 80 pp. Half title inscribed, "En souvenir d'Hélène Jourdan-Morhange"; Perlemuter did not sign. Uncut copy with pages unopened. Wrappers wrapped in onionskin paper. 8.75 x 6 inches (22 x 15.3 cm). Browned and very brittle; front endpaper partly detached and slightly torn to head; else in very good condition. Read More...
New York: Henry Holt and Co,. 1957. First Edition. Hardcover, boldly signed "To Paul / Sincerely / Richard Rodgers" to the title page by the the important American composer and lyricist of more than 900 songs and 40 Broadway musicals including (with Lorenz Hart) Pal Joey, Jumbo and Babes in Arms. With Oscar Hammerstein, he would contribute to such classics as South Pacific, The King and I and Oklahoma!. 8vo. 364pp + index, illustrated. Small tears and losses to dj, else fine. Read More...
35.
[Holiday Greetings]
Astaire, Fred. (1899–1987). Signed Photograph with "Sincere good smiles for the Holiday Season"
Signed Ernest Bachrach photograph, inscribed and signed to the popular Argentine Mundo Argentino magazine, "To King[?] of Mundo Argentino / Sincere good smiles for the Holiday Season / Fred Astaire." Part of the signature and inscription have been traced over in white, so that the inscription contrast could be shown when reproduced in the magazine (a tiny portion of the publication is affixed to the verso). Scattered marks and creases, margins trimmed, else fine. 7.5 x 9.5 inches (19.5 x 24 cm).
Collection of essays (in German) by the eminent German critic, exiled from 1933. Berlin and Leipzig: Schuster & Loeffler, 1921. 336 pp. With inscription by Egon Pollak, "Dem Kritischsten aller Kritiker zur Erinnerung an das kritische Jahr 1923! Fröhliche Weihnachten wünscht Egon Pollak." (To the most critical of all critics in remembrance of the critical year 1923! Egon Pollak wishes Merry Christmas.) Original boards and cloth spine. 8 x 5.5 inches (20.3 x 13.5 cm). Browned and very brittle. Upper board worn; spine chipped. Otherwise in good condition. From the collection of American composer George Perle. Read More...
A survey (in German) of conductors of the present, preceded by a history of conducting, by the eminent Berlin-based critic. The title translates into English as "The conductor in the twentieth century." Berlin: Propyläen, 1925. 198 pp. Numerous illustrations. With inscription to front endpaper by Egon Pollak, "Zur Erinnerung an einen 'Vergessenen', der aber dadurch nicht an Wert verlieren soll! Egon Pollak, Hamburg, Weihnachten 1925." (As a reminder of a 'forgotten' one whose value, however, should not diminish because of that. Egon Pollak, Hamburg, Christmas 1925). Original full cloth boards. 8.5 x 6 inches (21.9 x 15.1 cm). Stains to foot of pp. 61–66 and 135–36. Otherwise in very good condition. From the collection of American composer George Perle. Read More...
40.
[Holiday Greetings]
Klemperer, Otto. (1885–1973). " Best wishes for Christmas and New Year!" - Typed Letter Signed
TLS by the German-born conductor to Adam Parsons. London, December 22, 1962. In English. 1 p. Stationery of Hyde Park Hotel, Knightsbridge, London. In full: "Dear Adam Parsons, take my utmost thanks for my old recording, which you have sent to me. As soon as I have some time I will listen to it. / Take my best wishes for Christmas and New Year! Sincerely yours, Klemperer." 7 x 5.75 inches (18 x 14.5 cm). Horizontal fold, in a slender and toned older mat, easily removed and in very good condition overall. Read More...
Portrait postcard of the famous Austro-Hungarian operetta composer seated at the piano and looking sideways into the camera. Photograph by Carl Pietzner, court photographer in Vienna. Postcard produced and distributed by Geschwister Moos, Karlsruhe, Germany' printed date "1907., signed and inscription by Lehar (in German): "Lehár Franz thanks and returns the kind Christmas regards cordially." Card was used as such and sent by Lehar; postmarked Vienna, December 28 (year illegible). Remnants of earlier mounting on verso obscure most of the address, written in Lehar's hand (possibly "Herrn Konzertmeister / [name illegible]... Wien"), corners worn, else fine. 5.5 x 3.5 inches (14 x 9 cm).
Collection of 27 Christmas / holiday season cards, mostly pre-printed, and one typed letter from a wide variety of operatic celebrities to the Italian-American painter. Some addressed to "Luigi and [his] sister." Undated unless stated otherwise; wide variety of formats. Authors (in alphabetical order): Read More...
Original 10" x 11.4" vintage lithograph. Credit to Currier & Ives at lower left and titled in the margin, The Wonderful Albino Family / Rudolph Lucasie, Wife & Children, from Madagascar / They have Pure White, Silken Hair and Pink Eyes!! / Have Been Exhibited at Barnum's Museum, N.Y. for Three Years. A rather toned and worn example with tears and losses around the edges, a few extending just inside the central illustrated panel, but nevertheless quite striking. Read More...
Signed photograph of the masterful pianist, who has inscribed "To Paul / Claudio Arrau" in black ink. Arrau is shown standing on the stage of Carnegie Hall, its distinctive circular ceiling lights visible in the background. Stamp identifying the pianist to verso. In very fine condition. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
Striking and unusual original Harcourt of Paris photograph of Belgian violinist, a child prodigy who became internationally known as a teenager and whose virtuosity and pure lyrical expression earned her a place among the top international violinists. Small crease to right edge, else fine condition. 7 x 9.4 inches (18 x 24 cm.). Read More...
Signed Kriegsmann Mitchell of NY photograph of the great Dutch-American pianist and pedagogue who studied with Carreno and Busoni and who counted John Ogdon and Earl Wild among his own many accomplished students. Inscribed to Harry Friedgut (1901-1975), managing director of the New York City Center of Music and Drama, and dated Feb. 16th, 1942. Some small creases along the left edge, else fine, a particularly attractive example. 8 x 10 inches (20.6 x 25 cm).
Stunning original silver gelating Sedge Le Blang photograph of the great African American contralto in her pathbreaking Metropolitan Opera debut as Ulrica, in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera. 8 x 10 inches (20.5 x 25.2 cm). Photographer's stamp on verso with notations, edges slightly worn, overall fine. Read More...
1953 Othello Records (2) – L-101 “Subscriber’s Edition,” numbered 4782 and signed in ballpoint on the verso of the pictorial album cover. Album clean and bright with light edge wear. Vinyl with some visible scratches, untested.
New York: HarperCollins. 1991. First edition, first printing. Hardcover with dustjacket, signed and inscribed on the title. 6.5 x 9.5. 398 pages. In fine condition.
The Belafonte Story: The Words, the Music, the Man, An Almanac Picture Book, vol. 2, ed. Josi Gameaux (New York: Almanac Publications, Inc., April 1957). 68 p. including covers, 8.5 × 10.75 inches (22 × 27 cm). Three gatherings, pp. 3–66, browned with slightly darker edges, with text and ubiquitous black-and-white photography, engravings, and line drawings; bound with two metal staples, wrapped in glossy color paper cover, back attached to spine by glue; front cover detached with chipped left and right edges, else fine. Read More...
Signed photographic reproduction of an illustrated portrait of the legendary jazz singer, who is shown leaning against a telescope with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, a reference to Bennett's signature tune "I left my heart in San Francisco" written by George City and Douglass Cross, which became the official city song. Bennett has inscribed "To Paul, / Best Wishes, / Tony Bennett / '73" in black felt tip. The ABC Television Network press release mounted to verso reads, in part, "The man who has been called the 'singer's singer,' Tony Bennett stars in his first television special, Singer Presents Tony Bennett, on the ABC Television Network -- in color." Slight ripple to lower margin, else in very fine condition. 7 x 9 inches (17.8 x 22.9 cm.). Read More...
Handsome bust portrait photograph of the great composer and bandleader in a tuxedo, inscribed and signed in bold green ink. Small surface losses to verso, some light surface creases, overall in fine condition. Visible photo: 7" x 8 3/4", nicely matted and framed under UV plexiglass to 11 1/2" x 13 1/2" overall.