Holiday 2023 Catalogue

Showing items 1 to 20

195 items in this catalogue total,
currently filtered to 195




48. [Instrumentalists] [Accordion].
Original Photograph of a Bear Playing an Accordion!

Unusual and amusing photograph from Russia, ca. 1980s, showing a tamed bear playing an accordion.  The bear, seated and in a leather muzzle, appears to be playing in a public square and is accompanied by an unidentified man and woman.  Minor wear along the edges and corners, some spotting to verso; overall fine.  7.25 x 4.5 inches (18.4 x 11.4 cm.).

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Unsigned Photo/Portrait
Unsigned Photo
Unsigned Photograph
Performing Arts & Media

49. [Instrumentalists] [Albino Violinist] Currier & Ives.
"The Wonderful Albino Family."

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...

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Art/Sculpture
Art & Design

86. [Opera] Anderson, Marian. (1897–1993).
Original Photograph in Metropolitan Opera Debut "Un ballo in maschera"

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...

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Opera
Unsigned Photo/Portrait
Unsigned Photograph

96. [Jazz & Song] Armstrong, Louis. (1901–1971) [Goffin, Robert. (1898–1984)].
Horn of Plenty - INSCRIBED TO WILD BILL DAVISON

New York: Allen, Towne & Heath, Inc.. 1947. First edition. Story of Louis Armstrong, inscribed by Armstrong on the front free endpage "To my life long Buddy Bill Davidson from Louis Armstrong." First edition in English, published in French, in Paris, in the same year. Hardcover, original blue cloth, title in gilt to spine, treble clef embossed to the upper board. Portrait frontispiece, 304 pp. Signed page heavily toned, half title with two small punched holes, spine rubbed with ends a bit frayed, somewhat shaken but solid. Read More...

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Book
Jazz

50. [Instrumentalists] Arrau, Claudio. (1903–1991).
Signed Photograph in Carnegie Hall

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...

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Signed Photograph
Signature
Classical Music
Performing Arts & Media

110. [Dance] Astaire, Fred. (1899–1987).
Original Photograph dancing en route to French premiere of "Funny Face"

Original 1956 photograph of the great dancer, as he dances on the tarmac in front of a TWA airplane in Paris, where he was arriving to attend the French premiere of "Funny Face." French news clipping and collection stamps on verso, fine. 5 x 7 inches (12.8 x 18 cm).

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Unsigned Photo
Dance

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).

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Signed Photograph
Dance

185. [History & Culture] [Autograph Album] Balthus, Barber, Romain, Brauner, Maganani, Moravia, Morante, Milhaud, Rota, Visconti etc. [Countess Anna Laetitia Pecci, aka Mimì Pecci-Blunt. (1885 - 1971) .
Autograph Album of the Countess Anna Laetitia Pecci

An extraordinary autograph album, assembled by Countess Anna Laetitia Pecci, the Italian noblewoman, patron and collector, granddaughter of Pope Leo XIII, who was very active in the cultural sphere, opening numerous salons, galleries and theaters in Rome, Paris and New York. The album, signed "Anna Leticia Pecci" on the first page and identified on the following as "Palazzo Pecci Blunt / 3 Piazza Aracoeli," records dinners and parties at the famed Roman Palazzo Fani in Piazza d'Aracoeli, renamed Palazzo Pecci Blunt, which became the venue for important events from the early 1930s, the present album containing entries from 27 March, 1952 through 12 April, 1970.  The subsequent pages are full of autograph signatures from the many luminaries from all spheres of public life who attended parties and salons at this famed address: film directors, actors and actresses, composers, singers, instrumentalists, poets, writers, painters, politicians, financiers etc. etc. Read More...
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Classical Music
Signed Document/Item
Film
Art & Design
Literature
History & Historiography
Signature

111. [Dance] Balanchine, George. (1904–1983).
Signed Photograph

Striking signed bust portrait photograph of the choreographer known as the father of American ballet.  Name and NYCB stamp to verso. Small stain to right area below the signature, small tears to left edge and upper corner, significant handling creases, including notable vertical creases. 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm).
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Signature
Dance

143. [Literature & Art] Baskin, Leonard. (1922 - 2000).
Blake & Palmer - Two Engravings INSCRIBED TO SYLVIA PLATH AND TED HUGHES

A pair of woodcut engravings, "Blake", "Palmer" (depicting the nineteenth century landscape painter, etcher, and printmaker Samuel Palmer RWS), the first inscribed "for Sylvia & Ted" and each signed "Baskin." The images measuring: 8 x 11 cm (Blake) and 5 x 5.5 cm (Palmer).  Fully backed to paper support with small tears and losses to periphery of fragile tissue just outside of the plate, presented archivally matted to 11 x 14 inches and 8 x 10 inches overall respectively.  Read More...


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97. [Jazz & Song] [Beach Boys] Wilson, Brian. (b. 1942).
"Wouldn’t It Be Nice. My Own Story" - SIGNED

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.

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Signed Document/Item
Jazz

81. [Conductors] Beecham, Thomas. (1879–1961).
Original Photograph

Portrait of the British conductor in his later years in profile seated at his desk studying a score.  8.75 x 7.25 inches (22 x 18.2 cm).  Mounted to rigid backing, in fine condition.

Sir Thomas Beecham founded both the London Philharmonic Orchestra (1932) and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (1949).  He was never happy with being a salaried employee of any orchestra and preferred to gather his own ensembles instead.

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Classical Music
Unsigned Photo

1. [Beethoven, Ludwig van. (1770-1827)].
Pink Ivory Pass to First Quartet Cycle Performance

Rare and important ivory ticket pass to the London Beethoven Quartett Society where the monumental String Quartets were first performed as a cycle.  Handpainted on pink-stained ivory, the pass reads "Honor to Beethoven," the chair number "55", and "Quartett Society."  37mm, 4.38g.  Crack to center, else in fine condition.    Read More...

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Ephemera
Classical Music

36. [Holiday Greetings] Bekker, Paul. (1882–1937) & Pollak, Egon. (1879–1933) [Perle, George. (1915–2009)].
[Music criticism] Kritische Zeitbilder - INSCRIBED WITH CHRISTMAS WISHES

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...

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Book
Classical Music

98. [Jazz & Song] Belafonte, Harry. (1927 - 2023).
The Belafonte Story - Signed 1957 picture-book

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...

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Jazz
Signed Photograph

99. [Jazz & Song] Bennett, Tony. (1926 - 2023).
Signed San Francisco landscape Promotional Portrait

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...

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Signed Photograph
Signature
Jazz
Song

2. Berlin, Irving. (1888-1989).
Original Photograph in "Song Coat"

An amusing vintage photograph of the composer in a coat of song titles, musical top hat and "God Bless America" oversized bow tie, apparently in a club membership induction ceremony at "the Astor, fixed up like [N-word] Mike's Bowery bar, where Berlin began his career as a singing waiter. Announcer and bartender: Tony Sarg, cartoonist." Edges nicked, stamps and clippings on verso, else fine. 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25.5 cm.).

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Unsigned Photograph
Song

144. [Literature & Art] Berman, Eugene. (1899-1972).
Costume Design for Don Giovanni, 1952

Original Costume Design for Don Juan, by the eminent Russian Neo-romantic painters and theater and opera designers. Ink on paper. Signed and dated E.B. 1952 (lc); inscribed Bride (lr) and Don Juan (uc).  14 3/4 x 11 inches (37.5 x 27.9 cm). Nicely framed. Unexamined out of frame but in apparently fine condition.  Read More...

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3. Beuys, Joseph. (1921–1986).
In Memoriam George Maciunas: Klavierduett - SIGNED

Berlin: Edition Block. 1982. In Memoriam George Maciunas. 1931 - 1978: Klavierduett. Fluxus-Soirée der Galerie René Block in der Staatlichen Kunstakademie Düsseldorf. Double LP, GR-EB 113/114, signed to the front cover by Beuys in pencil. Two 12-inch vinyl records, cover: 12 1/4 × 12 3/8" (31.1 × 31.4 cm). Very fine.   Read More...

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Signed Document/Item
Book
Art & Design

4. [Bird Music] Van Wickede, F. (?–?).
[Canary breeding] Kanari-Uitspanningen / Of nieuwe verhandeling van de / Kanari-Teelt,... Nieuwe verbeeterde en vermeerende Druck... Vierde Druck

Amsterdam: Steven van Esveldt. 1773. Fourth Edition. A book in Dutch on canary breeding as a hobby.  Upright 16mo in contemporary marbled boards.  Letterpress.  Front endpaper, frontispiece with engraving by N. van Frankendaal (1720–1791) of a canary breeder at work (verso blank), title with copying prohibition and publisher's signature to verso, preface [3 fol.], new preface to 4th edition [1 fol.], [1]–131 [132] pp.  Woodcut vignette on title, woodcut headers.  Two signatures in ink to front endpaper, the first illegible; the second is "Charles Schicksal."  Notes and scribblings in English, in pencil, to insides of boards.  Label with withered number to upper board.  6.5 x 4 inches (16.2 x 9.8 cm).  Lower edge uncut. Slightly dampstained; boards worn and somewhat soiled; else in fine condition.  In an elaborate modern, custom-made case covered in brown morocco with raised bands and gilt lettering.   The volume is quite rare, with only two copies in any 18th century edition recorded by Worldcat outside of the Netherlands (France and Germany).  Read More...

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