16148. [Porter, Cole. (1891–1964)]. Collection of Programs and Ephemera from the Yale Glee, Banjo and Mandolin Clubs, all featuring Cole Porter
An interesting collection of four 1911–1912 programs and two stickers from the Yale Glee, Banjo and Mandolin Clubs, from the estate of Cole Porter. The programs are dated January 16, 1911, April 7, 1911, June 19, 1911, and January 15, 1912, and list Porter as a second tenor in the Yale Glee Club, as well as the performer of a monologue, the soloist on the song "Perfectly Terrible," and the composer and lyricist of the song "The Motor Car." Also included are two stickers, one reading "P.A. Musical Clubs" and the other "Yale Apollo Glee, Banjo and Mandolin Association." Programs 5.5 x 6 inches and 7 x 5.25 inches; stickers 6 and 8 inches wide. Some light toning and wear to the programs, overall fine; stickers very good. Read More...
Pair of Porter's ivory moleskin gloves (approx. 9 1/2 x 4 in.; 241 x 102 mm), ca. 1950; minor soiling. Provenance: From the collection Madeleine P. Smith, secretary to Cole Porter.
One of Cole Porter’s personally owned and worn waistcoats. Gray checked vest, made by Knize of New York, bears two rows of three buttons in the front and a label sewn into the waist, with Porter’s name typed onto it and dated May 18, 1954. In fine condition. At this time, Porter was in between two hit shows, Can-Can and Silk Stockings, which ran for a combined 1369 shows. Provenance: From the collection Madeleine P. Smith, secretary to Cole Porter.
14464. Porter, Cole. (1891–1964). Signed Document: Porter Consents to the use of his name in the Rodgers/Hart song "I Like to Recognize the Tune."
DS, three pages, 8.5 x 11, June 6, 1943. Between Loew's Incorporated and the great composer and lyricist who consents to the use of his name “in the lyrics of a song entitled ‘I Like To Recognize The Tune’ written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart…to be used in connection with your photoplay tentatively entitled, ‘Meet the People.” The document goes on to quote the lyrics in full, with the verse mentioning Porter reading: “We murder the music of Mozart / We’re poison to Irving Berlin / We always slaughter the tunes of Cole Porter / And do it again and again.” Signed at the conclusion in black ink by Porter. In fine condition, with expected document wear. Handsomely framed together with a photograph of Porter. 36 x 20 inches total. Framed to 20.5 x 35 inches. Read More...
One of Cole Porter's personally owned and worn waistcoats. Made for him by Knize, New York, with a blue botanical pattern printed on cotton whipcord fabric. Bears one row of three holes for desired buttons, and a label sewn into the waist with Porter's name typed onto it and dated July 6, 1954. In fine condition. At this time, Porter was in between two hit shows, Can-Can and Silk Stockings, which ran for a combined 1369 shows. Provenance: From the collection Madeleine P. Smith, secretary to Cole Porter. Measures, flat, 19 x 17.5 inches.
Original Yale yearbook from 1913, the year of Cole Porter's graduation, and featuring the young composer and songwriter on several pages throughout. Porter is listed as a member of the secret society Scroll and Key; a football cheerleader (with photograph); the President of the Yale Glee, Banjo and Mandolin Clubs Association and the Leader of the Glee Club (with photograph); a second tenor in the College Choir; a member of the apparently humorous Mince Pie Club, the Pundits, and the Hogans (with photograph); and of course a member of the Yale Whiffenpoofs (with photograph). The yearbook also features several amusing pictures of Yalies in fancy dress on "Whiffenpoof Day" and other occasions. 510 pp. Blue cloth boards; some shelf wear and scuffs to the boards with a block of toning; unidentified signature with Ex-Libris to inside front board, overall in very good condition. 7.5 x 9.75 inches (19.2 x 24.8 cm). Read More...
Printed card reading "Mr. Cole Porter Sends His Appreciative Thanks For Your Kind Thought of Him", secretarially inscribed below in blue ink "He thanks you for your letter and lovely card. (He is quite ill)." Together with the envelope postmarked Dec 13, 1961, New York, NY. Fine.
Signed photograph of the great songwriter, the famous portrait taken in NY by Hal Phyfe in the early 1940s, signed "Cole Porter" in blue ink along the right side. 7.5 x 10.5 cm. Fine.
An attractive photograph of a portrait drawing of the great composer and lyricist, signed and inscribed by Porter in ink to the music publisher Max Dreyfus: "For the great Max with years of devotion. Cole." Signed "Baz / 40" by the artist within the image (printed) upper right. 8 x 10 inches, glued to slightly larger rigid backing, else fine. Read More...
Original 8 x 10 inch (20.5 x 25.5 cm) doubleweight Hal Phyfe photograph of Porter, with the photographer's raised stamp lower left. A few pencil marks in margins, stamped on the verso and overall very good.
Unsigned autograph notes in Porter's hand, the composer evididently planning an itinerary which includeds a stay at the Palazzao Pallarcini in Rome and at the Hotel Ritz in Paris. 6 x 5.5 inches. 2 holes punched in blank right margin, else fine. From the estate of his longtime private secretary, Madeleine Smith.
New York: Jerome H. Remick. 1910. First edition. Upright folio. 5 pp. Light staining along left third, pages disbound, edges creased or with small tears reinforced with tape. In unfortunate condition, but nevertheless a very rare example of one of the composer's earliest published songs. Read More...
Vintage advertisement for Rheingold beer featuring the Broadway hitmaker, shown in two photographs above a quotation reading, in part, "It must be true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. Look at the way New Yorkers have welcomed me back with my new musical, Kiss Me Kate. And see how they're cheering the return of the town's favorite beer." Taken from the August 20, 1949 issue of The New Yorker. Fine. 8.5 x 11.5 inches (21.6 x 29.2 cm.).
Vintage 1952 photograph of Porter and Sullivan as they discuss the script for Sullivan's "Toast of the Town" which was to present "The Cole Porter Story" over two broadcasts. 7 x 9 inches (18 x 23 cm), in fine condition.
Signed photograph of the American actress, dancer, and singer in costume for the 1988 touring production of Cole Porter's Can-Can. Rivera has inscribed along the crinoline of her dress "To Paul / Love / Chita Rivera." A press release for a week of performances at the Wang Center in Boston is affixed to verso. Very fine. 8 x 10 inches (20.7 x 25.4 cm.). Read More...
New York: Chappell Music Company. 195. First edition. 319 pp. Large softcover volume. Some water staining to lower portion of covers, letter and bottom of a few pages, mostly fine. With presentation letter, 10/7/75 stapled to first free endpage from Lee Snider, editor of Chappell Music. In full: "Dear Miss Merman, Inasmuch as Cole Porter was very much a part of your career, I thought it would please you to have a copy of Chappell's newly published book The Music & Lyrics of Cole Porter Volume II. I'm sure you will note that many of the shows with which you were associated are represented herein. Having long been a great Ethel Merman fan, I am pleased to send you this book in the hopes that you wll find it to your liking." Read More...
New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 1953. First edition. Hardback edition of Kiss Me Kate - A Musical Play, by Samuel and Bella Spewack with lyrics by Cole Porter. The illustrated volume features the cast list for the original Broadway production and has been signed and inscribed to the front free endpaper by Bella Spewack to Baltimore Sun theater and film critic, Hal Gardner (1919 - 1995): "For: Hal Gardner - Please check that line in Kate 'we'll be shooting deer in the balcony / you know Baltimore' / Bela Spewack - Baltimore - Feb. 3, 1954." Read More...
Secretarial letter on behalf of the Scottish novelist and creator of Peter Pan to actor Monty Woolley. August 9, 1927. 2 pp., handwritten, on letterhead of the Stanway hotel, Cheltenham. Text, in full: "Dear Sir, Sir James Barrie directs me to thank you very much for your letter and expresses his great regret at the impossibility of his being able to leave England. He much appreciates the honor of the invitation and is so sorry not to be able to come to Boston. He is also very sorry not to be able to have the pleasure of meeting you, but he has left London for some time. Yours faithfully, C. Greene (for Sir James Barrie)." Toning and some light soiling; overall fine. 4.5 x 7 inches (11.5 x 17.8 cm). Read More...
Glossy photograph still from the 1934 Hollywood film The Gay Divorcee,signed and inscribed in blue and black felt tip ink by co-stars Fred Astaire and Erik Rhodes to "Dana." Very fine. 10 x 8 inches (25.4 x 20.3 cm.). Read More...
12188. Bartók, Béla. (1881–1945). Signed Letter about Hungary in WWII and The Commission of the Arts and Sciences of Independent Hungary
2-page TLS, signed "Bartok Bela." October 27, 1942. In Hungarian, an important letter addressed to the Hungarian-born composer and publisher, Albert Szirmay, who had emigrated to New York in 1923 and took a post as music director for Chappell Music, becoming editor for such Broadway luminaries as Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, and George Gershwin. The letter concerns Hungary's role in WWII and Bartok's involvement as Chair of the Committee of Hungarian Scientists and Artists. Mentioning "the fateful fight carried out against the dictator" and lamenting that "the Hungarian government has declared war on the Axis side of the democracies," he knows that "President Roosevelt...you are on our side" and states that "in this situation...the representatives of Hungarian culture, who in America our principled beliefs are free to declare," must speak for the "the millions of Hungarians who are struggling." He goes on to invite Szirmay to join the newly formed Committee and a retained copy of Szirmay's letter of acceptance is included together with the original letter from Bartok. 8.5 x 11 inches, minor toning and a small tear along one of the original folds, else fine. Read More...