A wonderful item from the great Irish tenor, a solid gold propelling pencil by Baker's Pointer, designed as an engine turned case applied with a panel engraved "Count John McCormack", further accented by a circular cut diamond accent. Constructed of 9K gold (375 purity stamp), 32 grams, with English hallmarks, early 20th century. In fine condition, in a leather box with display label.  Provenance: John McCormack – Mrs. John McCormack (gifted by her to the Metropolitan Opera Guild; Memorabilia Committee minutes for 1959-1960). 30.59 grams total.

Count John McCormack ranks alongside Enrico Caruso as one of the most successful artists of the first age of sound recordings. The inscription dates his ownership of this pencil to after 1928, when he received the title of Papal Count from Pope Pius XI. "Being by his own admission a poor actor, he decided to abandon the stage...His concert work revealed him to be a remarkable interpreter, not only of Handel, Mozart and the Italian classics, but also of German lieder....McCormack's numerous recordings show the singular sweetness of his tone and perfection of his style and technique in his prime - for example, in his famous version of Mozart's 'Il mio tesoro' and in Handel's 'O Sleep' (Semele) and 'Come, my beloved' (i.e. 'Care selve' from Atlanta) - while later records of lieder and of Irish folksongs illustrate other aspects of his versatile art. He was always, according to Ernest Newman, 'a patrician artist...with a respect for art that is rarely met with among tenors.'" (Desmond Shawe-Taylor, Grove Online)