Florence Foster Jenkins Catalogue


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1. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
Original Photograph Inscribed to her Accompanist

An extremely rare signed portrait photograph of the notoriously awful soprano, inscribed to her accompanist Edwin McArthur. Shown standing in her apartment, holding a white feather boa, Jenkins has penned: "To the very best accompanist, Edwin McArthur, and his charming wife Blanche. With my love from ‘Lady Florence’ July 19th '32." Mounted on heavy card. Some small corner chips and a few scattered spots, but overall in very good condition with crisp image and inscription. 7.5 x 9.5 inches (19.5 x 24.2 cm). Read More...

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2. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
1944 Carnegie Hall Recital - Original Program

A very rare original program from the notoriously awful soprano's 1944 Carnegie Hall recital, her last and only public performance. Jenkins, assisted by her regular pianist, Cosmé McMoon, performed songs and arias by Gluck, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and others (some in costume) and a world-premiere by André Kostelanetz, commissioned for the recital. The sold-out audience included Lily Pons, Kostelanetz, Cole Porter, Marge Champion, Kitty Carlisle, Gian-Carlo Menotti and others. She died only a month after the recital. Jenkins' name and the date are noted in pen at the top corner of the program cover; some light wear and tape remnants on a few interior pages, but overall in fine condition. 15 pp. 7.5 x 10.25 inches (19.5 x 26 cm). Read More...

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Program, unsigned

3. [Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944)].
Original Photograph of Carnegie Hall Audience

An original photograph of the audience for the notoriously awful soprano's 1944 Carnegie Hall concert, her last and only public recital. Photographed by Jenkins' friend Adolf Pollitz from the dress circle, with a facsimile autograph caption, and also identified on the verso in a later hand. Some light creases and show-through from the writing on the verso; overall in fine condition. 10 x 8 inches (25.5 x 20.5 cm). Read More...


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4. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
1944 Carnegie Hall Recital - Original Flyer

A very rare promotional flyer for notoriously awful soprano's 1944 Carnegie Hall recital, her last and only public performance. The recto features a halftone photograph of Jenkins in a bracelet and tiara, a lace dress and a large brooch from a chain around her neck; the verso lists the entire program, and also features several amusing press quotations about the star and her "marked individuality in style and piquancy in her interpretations." Folding creases and light wear; overall in very good condition. 6.75 x 9.75 inches (16.9 x 24.6 cm). Read More...

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Program, unsigned

A rare original photograph of the notoriously awful soprano, taken at a party at her Manhattan apartment in the Seymour Hotel in 1937. Photographed by Margaret Bourke-White for Life magazine, for a projected story, “Life Goes to a Party,” which was never published. In front of the piano and her own portrait, Jenkins is shown delightedly offering her hand to a gallant younger man. Some staining to the right edge and corner creases; overall in very good condition. 11 x 14 inches (28 x 35.5 cm). Read More...


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6. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868–1944) [Barber, Samuel. (1910–1981)] .
Florence Foster Jenkins - Record Humorously Signed and Inscribed by Samuel Barber

Rare privately issued gramophone recording of Florence Foster Jenkins, inscribed by Barber on the label "This great example of American singing - for Herbert - with warmest greetings / Sam Barber." Read More...

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7. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
1938 Recital at the Ritz-Carlton - Original Program

A very rare original program from one of the notoriously awful soprano's private song recitals, held at the Ritz-Carlton on October 27, 1938. Printed in red on silver paper, the program features a photograph of Jenkins wearing a lace shawl, a mantilla, and a long string of pearls. The program included Caccini's Amaryllis (with the words amusingly attributed to Leonardo da Vinci!) and Mozart's concert aria No, no, che non sei capace, with the forewarning that the composer "tried to make the aria impossibly difficult to sing." 3 pp., printed on a large sheet folded in four. Folding creases and some overall light creases and wear, but otherwise in very good condition. 6.75 x 9.25 inches (17.2 x 23.4 cm). Read More...

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Program, unsigned

8. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
1939 Recital at the Ritz-Carlton - Original Program

A very rare original program from one of the notoriously awful soprano's private song recitals, held at the Ritz-Carlton on October 26, 1939. Printed in red on silver paper, the program features a photograph of Jenkins in her "peasant-maid" costume. The program included the Queen of the Night aria, Russian songs, and a new "Serenata Mexicana" composed for Jenkins by her accompanist, Cosme McMoon. 3 pp., printed on a large sheet folded in four. Some wear to the edges but overall in very good condition. 6.75 x 9.25 inches (17.2 x 23.4 cm). Read More...

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Program, unsigned

9. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
1939 Recital at the Ritz-Carlton - Original Program

A very rare original program from one of the notoriously awful soprano's private song recitals, held at the Ritz-Carlton on October 26, 1939. Printed in red on silver paper, the program features a photograph of Jenkins in her "peasant-maid" costume. The program included the Queen of the Night aria, Russian songs, and a new "Serenata Mexicana" composed for Jenkins by her accompanist, Cosme McMoon. 3 pp., printed on a large sheet folded in four. Folding creases and some wear to the edges, but overall in very good condition. 6.75 x 9.25 inches (17.2 x 23.4 cm). Read More...

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Program, unsigned

10. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
1943 Recital at the Ritz-Carlton - Original Program

A very rare original program from one of the notoriously awful soprano's private song recitals, held at the Ritz-Carlton on November 4, 1943. The program included "Old English Songs," the "Bell Song" from Lakmé, and "Like a Bird," a song with music by her accompanist Cosme McMoon and words by Jenkins herself -- which are printed on a separate insert. The cover features a halftone photograph of Jenkins in a hat and a string of pearls, while the inside cover shows her in her "Angel of Inspiration" costume. Noted in pen are her encores to the program: an aria from "Die Fledermaus" and "The Music Box." 3 pp. Folding creases, some small tears and wear to the edges, but overall in very good condition. 6.25 x 10 inches (16 x 25.4 cm). Read More...

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Program, unsigned

11. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
1944 Carnegie Hall Recital - Original Program

A very rare original program from the notoriously awful soprano's 1944 Carnegie Hall recital, her last and only public performance. Jenkins, assisted by her regular pianist, Cosmé McMoon, performed songs and arias by Gluck, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and others (some in costume) and a world-premiere by André Kostelanetz, commissioned for the recital. The sold-out audience included Lily Pons, Kostelanetz, Cole Porter, Marge Champion, Kitty Carlisle, Gian-Carlo Menotti and others. She died only a month after the recital. Jenkins' name and the date are noted in pen at the top corner of the program cover; some light wear and tape remnants on several interior pages, but overall in very good condition. 15 pp. 7.5 x 10.25 inches (19.5 x 26 cm). Read More...

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Program, unsigned

12. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
1944 New York State Women Recital - Original Program

A very rare original single sheet program from one of the notoriously awful soprano's private song recitals, given by the New York State Women association on February 4, 1944. The program included "Old English Songs," the "Bell Song" from Lakmé, and "Like a Bird," a song with music by her accompanist Cosme McMoon and words by Jenkins herself. 1 p. One horizontal crease; otherwise in fine condition. 5.5 x 8.5 inches (14 x 21.5 cm). Read More...

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Program, unsigned

13. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
1944 Recital at the Washington Club - Original Program

A very rare original program from one of the notoriously awful soprano's private song recitals, held in the last year of her life, on April 20th, 1944, at the Washington Club in Washington, D. C. Accompanied by Malton Boyce, the program included "Old English Songs," the "Bell Song" from Lakmé, and "Like a Bird," a song with music by her usual accompanist Cosme McMoon and words by Jenkins herself -- which are printed on a separate insert. The cover features a halftone photograph of a younger Jenkins in profile against a fabric screen, raising one of her arms in a rather odd gesture. 3 pp. Folding creases, some small tears and wear to the edges, but overall in very good condition. 6.25 x 10 inches (16 x 25.4 cm). Read More...

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14. [Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944)].
National Fascist Militia Band - 1934 Souvenir Program, Sponsored by Jenkins

Original souvenir program from the Italian National Fascist Militia Band's 1934 first American tour, one of the honorary patrons of which was the socialite and notoriously awful soprano Florence Foster Jenkins. Mussolini, smiling and waving, is pictured on the cover. The patrons of the tour are listed on p. 11, including Florence Foster Jenkins, Howard Chandler Christy, Edwin Franko Goldman, Henry Hadley and ten others. 12 pp. One vertical folding crease; overall in very good condition. 8.5 x 11 inches (21.6 x 28 cm). Read More...


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Program, unsigned

An original signed photograph of the British stage actor, the common-law husband and manager of the famously awful soprano Florence Foster Jenkins. He is shown as a young man in a serious pose, with his arms folded in front of him, and has signed at the foot. Photographed by Packard Studios. Together with an autograph letter from Bayfield to a Mr. Winslow, dated December 9, 1918, sending his correspondent the signed photograph and also expressing his willingness to help in a theatrical project. "Your letter interests me for it is the first sign of the time to come when the Y.M.C.A. will attempt to understand the stage and the power for good existent both in the lines of the worthy people who depict character & emotion, and in the art of the theatre..." 4 pp. Two holes punched at the left edge of both the photograph and the letter; otherwise in fine condition. Photograph 5 x 7 inches (12.7 x 17.8 cm); letter 5 x 8 inches (12.4 x 20 cm). Read More...


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16. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
Original Signed Photograph

An extremely rare signed portrait photograph of the notoriously awful soprano, shown as a young woman playing the piano, surrounded by baskets of flowers, her wig clearly visible. She has inscribed and signed on the mat: “Happy Easter! To Charlie and Betty With love from ‘Lady Florence.’” One large tear to the mat at the upper edge, and some light water damage and wear to the other edges, but photograph untouched and overall in very good condition. 7 x 9 inches (18.4 x 23.5 cm), matted to 9 x 11 inches (22.7 x 29 cm). Read More...

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Signed Photograph

A rare original photograph of the notoriously awful soprano, taken at a party at her Manhattan apartment in the Seymour Hotel in 1937. Photographed by Margaret Bourke-White for Life magazine, for a projected story, “Life Goes to a Party,” which was never published. While Jenkins stands in an elaborate gown by the piano, the young, bearded Al Hirschfeld (later the famous caricaturist of stage and screen personalities) is visible at the left, together with two unidentified men. One loss at the lower left, with creasing and wear to the edges; otherwise in very good condition. 11 x 14 inches (28 x 35.5 cm). Read More...


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Art & Design

A rare original photograph of the notoriously awful soprano, taken at a party at her Manhattan apartment in the Seymour Hotel in 1937. Photographed by Margaret Bourke-White for Life magazine, for a projected story, “Life Goes to a Party,” which was never published. Jenkins is shown singing with her hands clasped, while two younger women in the foreground listen tolerantly. One loss at the lower left corner, and some light creases and stains to the edges; overall in very good condition. 11 x 14 inches (28 x 35.5 cm). Read More...


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19. Jenkins, Florence Foster. (1868-1944).
Original Signed Photograph

An extremely rare signed portrait photograph of the notoriously awful soprano, inscribed to Countess de Pokorsky and dated October 26, 1926. Jenkins is shown wearing the Spanish outfit that she featured in her performances of the song, “Clavelitos” (during which she would throw flowers from a basket under her arm into the audience.)  Photographed by Elite Studios, New York. Two small mounting remnants on the verso; one corner loss; overall in fine condition. 8.5 x 12.75 inches (21.2 x 32.3 cm). Read More...

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