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).
New York: Random House. 1971. Book Club. Hardcover, signed "Stephen Sondheim" in bold black ink to the front free endpage. Photos, 8.5 x 5.75, boards, 107 pp, extremities bumped and worn, some modest staining to gutters at endpapers. DJ with some staining and small tear to upper right front corner. Overall, a very good copy. Read More...
A fine original CDV photograph issued by L. Haase & Co. of Berlin of the important German pianist/conductor. Small indentation to upper margin, name in pencil in an unknown hand to lower margin, else in very fine condition. 2.25 x 3.75 in (6 x 10 cm).
Doubleweight sepia photograph of the legendary ballerina in her signature "Dragonfly" ballet, the photograph issued by the Advance Theatrical Shoe Co., signed and inscribed within the image (printed). A few small stains, else fine. 8 x 10 inch (20 x 25 cm). Read More...
Vintage bust portrait photograph of the great Finnish composer, printed and dated 1965, with CBS news clipping to verso. 7 x 9 inches (18 x 22.6 cm) and in fine condition.
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).
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.).
Rare early program signed in pencil by the great fiddler. Arad, 18. 2. 1910. 230 x 145 mm. Folded, one 4 cm long tear along crease, generally worn but very attractive nevertheless.
Carl Flesch called him "the most outstanding and individual violinist I have ever heard in my life," and he was the dedicatee of many major works from Debussy, Saint-Saens, Franck, Chausson and others.
Firenze: Pietro Cecconcelli. 1620. First edition. Small 4to. (160 x 215 mm). 1f. (pictorial title including the arms of the Medici), 1f. (dedication to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo II), 2ff. ("Lettera del Sor. Giovambatista Strozzi all'Autore"), [v] (letters to Ottavio Rinuccini, Andrea Salvadori, Niccolo Strozzi, and Gabriello Chiabrera), [i] (cast list), [ii] (set design), pp. 3-31, [ii] (set design), 41-63, [ii] (set design), 65 - 94, [ii] (set design), 95 - 138, [ii] (set design), 139 - 162, 1f. (recto errata, verso colophon). With occasional decorative initials and woodcut head- and tailpieces and including 6 etchings by Jacques Callot (cf. Meaume) comprising the illustrated title-page, and 5 double-page plates representing the stage settings by Jacques Callot after the designs of Giulio Parigi. With the usual pp. 33-40 misnumberedd 41-48 and p. 89 misnumbered 98. Trimmed margins, but overall a very bright and fresh copy of this early 17th Century "Turkish" opera. Berlin Katalog 4112; Brunet I, 1089;Cicognara 1086 ('bellissime figure, prove freschissime); Gamba 1810 ('Tra le molte edizioni di questa tragedia e' la presente molto ricercata per la vaghezza delle figure'); Lieure 363-368; Sartori 22249. Allacci 729-730. Schaal 861. Wotquenne p. 132. Read More...
Original pass or coupon for a recital by the important Italian composer/pianist/conductor at the Music Hall, Brooklyn Academy of Music, April 28, 1910, letterpress printed on orange cardstock measuring. In crisp, perfectly preserved condition, and handsome for display. A rare ephemeral survival from a Brooklyn engagement by this consummate musician. The coupon includes scheduling and ticket information and notes that it is Busoni's "Farewell Recital in American this Season." 2.5 x 3.25 in (6.5 x 8 cm).
An interesting autograph letter from the great Hungarian violinist, dedicatee of the Brahms, Dvorak and Bruch Concertos and many other works. 1 page, in English, dated Berlin, May 14th [no year]. In full: "Dear Sir, I don't think I ever touch the hair of the bow with my thumb; it perhaps depends on the length of the thumb if people do or not. If in your case it causes a 'certain stiffness in the hand', then don't by any means. Ease of bowing is the thing to attain." In fine condition. 4.75 x 7.5 in (13 x 20 cm). Read More...
Autograph collection of Hungarian musicians and composers signed payment receipts ("I gratefully acknowledge that today I received..."), 1916 - 1932, both in pencil and pen, 13 pieces, including items signed by Bela Bartok (for a performance with Ernest Ansermet), Zoltan Kodaly (2x), Edwin Fischer, Imre Kálmán, Fritz Busch, Pongracz Kacsoh, Bela Zerkovitz (4x), Lajos Bardos and Sergio Failoni (who was, of course, Italian, but was the leading conductor of the Budapest Royal Opera House). The four oldest ones toned and with chipping, otherwise generally fine. Approximately 7 x 4 inches (19 x 12 cm).
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...
Vintage photograph of the great dancer printed on matte photo paper stock, apparently a photograph of a laid down trimmed program photograph. Probably printed ca. 1940s but undated. Corners perished, edges chipped and torn, image itself in good shape. 8 x 10 inches (21 x 27 cm). Read More...
An early Ortho Print of NY bust publicity photograph of the German pianist, specialist in Debussy. Chipped along the right edge and corners, date stamped and with clipping to verso, else fine. 8 x 10 in. (21 x 25.5 cm).
Signed check penned and signed by the highly regarded American songwriter best known for the musical Showboat and for such standards as “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.” Personal check, 8.25 x 3 inches (21 x 7.7 cm), filled out and signed by Kern, “Jerome D. Kern,” payable to the stenographer firm of Tausig & Lewis for $159.00, September 14th, 1939. Check is endorsed on reverse by Tausig & Lewis. Expected cancellation holes just slightly affecting the signature, generally fine.
Ca. 1900 metamorphic postcard portrait of Liszt with facsimile autograph. The composer's face is composed of variously posed naked female bodies. 5.25 x 3.25 inches (13.5 x 8.5 cm.). Crease lower right, writing in an unknown hand in ink to verso, else fine.
Autograph note from the Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, publicist, and teacher considered one of the most important opera composers of the first half of the 20th century. 6 lines in Czech on the verso of the composer's printed visiting card, untranslated, sold together with the stamped and addressed envelope. In fine condition. 4.5 x 3 inches (11.7 x 7.8 cm)
175.
[Literature & Art]
Saint Laurent, Yves. (1936–2008). "Yves Saint Laurent par Yves Saint Laurent. Préface de Bernard-Henri Lévy." Inscribed WITH AN ORIGINAL DRAWING ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
Paris: Musee des arts de la mode. 1986. First Edition. Hardcover, grey cloth. 221 pp. Half title inscribed and signed on New Year's Eve with a striking original drawing in the hand of the French fashion designer regarded as one of the greatest names in fashion history. The drawing in pencil, inscribed in ink to a former YSL model and friend Kris Lovimaskaia, "Pour Kriss / Son Ami / Yves / Paris / Le 31 Decembre, 1986." DJ with tears around the edges, repaired with tape and partly affixed to boards along lower edges, else fine throughout. Read More...
Original maquette for a baptismal certificate by the important painter, draughtsman, printmaker and sculptor. The design, in black ink and blue gouache surrounded by a red border, touched in white, features the name François and the baptismal date of May 26, 1937, surrounded by flowers and the words "Il n'est pas necessaire d'espérer pour entreprendre et de réussir pour persévérer" ("One need not hope in order to undertake something, nor succeed in order to persevere.") Together with an autograph letter signed ("Henri Matisse"), 1 p, 4to, Nice, February 8, 1938, to M. Prade[?], transmitting the maquette. Drawing laid down, both pieces somewhat toned. 18 x 18 cm; 7 x 7.2 inches. Nicely presented in a double-sided frame under UV-Plexi. Read More...