Leipzig: chez F. Kistner. [after 1840]. First edition, later issue.. 11 pp. Engraved throughout. [PN] 974. Unbound, as issued. The work was composed in 1829–30 and first published by Kistner in November 1831 with a price of 12 Gr. This later issue was repriced at 15 Ngr. Light toning, with one crease to title page. Overall very good. 10.25 x 13 inches (26 x 33 cm). Read More...
A prop program from "Song of Love" Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1947. An oversized, light blue program with black text on the cover reading "Royal Opera / House / Dresden / Robert Schumann / Memorial Concert / Farewell / Appearance / Clara Schumann / at the Pianoforte / October 15th, 1890" while the three interior pages give additional information about the concert; the back cover displays a image of the "Schumanns" in profile, as portrayed by Katharine Hepburn and Paul Heinreid. This particular prop was used in the end credits of the film. Some minor water stains, else fine. 12 x 9in.
9813. Schumann, Robert. (1810–1856). Bilder Aus Osten. 6 Impromptus für das Pianoforte zu vier Händen. Op. 66. Complet.
Leipzig: Kistner. [1849]. First Edition. Folio. Title page lithographed, music engraved. [PN] 1665-1667. 31 pp. (double paginated as 1-17, 4-17). Beautiful decorative frame on title. With the preface of the composer on p. 3. Modern cloth-backed boards, outer leaves repaired. Hofmann p. 146-147. McCorkle p. 286. Scarce. Read More...
Leipzig: Georg Wigand. 1854. First. Hardcover 8vo. 4 volumes in 2: [1-2]: XXII; 328 pp; [Title]; 286 p; [3-4]: Title; 293 pp; Title; 304 pp. Each volume signed "Elise Schumann" to the front endsheet and the first volume inscribed on the following ffe "Meiner theuren Elise zur Erinnerung an den 10. September 1863 / Clara" [To my dear Elise in memory of September 10, 1863 / Clara." Dark brown boards, half leather with 4 raised bands, nicely rebacked with original spines adhered and fresh inner hinges. Occasional light foxing, small stain to the inscription page, overall fine. An important copy. Read More...
Leipzig: Whistling. [1846]. Score to Schumann's Six Fugues on B-A-C-H, op. 60, signed and inscribed by the composer on the front wrapper to the organist, pianist, violinist, and composer Robert Radecke. He has penned (translated from the German): "To Mr. Radecke / In remembrance and with many thanks / for his excellent organ playing," and dated D[resden], February 26, 1850. 35 pp. Engraved, [PN] 410.411–416. Bound together with six further works for organ (listed in full below), including first editions of Mendelssohn's Preludes and Fugues op. 37, Liszt's Fantasy and Fugue S. 259, and further works by Liszt, Brosig and Hesse. Some internal foxing and toning to the inscription page; overall fine. Blue full-cloth with gold tooling to spine; light shelf wear; overall fine. 10.5 x 13.25 inches. Read More...
"Montag, den 8. December 1851. Concert zum Besten des Orchester-Pensions-Fonds im Saale des Gewandhauses, unter Direction des Herrn Kapellmeister Julius Rietz." [Concert for the benefit of the pension fund for the Gewandhaus Orchestra under the direction of Julius Rietz.]. Read More...
A set of carte de visite photographs, ca. 1880s, of plaster medallions depicting the four great composers. Red-bordered cards with the photographer's shield, a "P," on the verso. In very fine condition. 2.5 x 4 inches (6.3 x 10.2 cm).
Signed program from an October 23, 1960 performance by the Austrian-German pianist and the Niederösterreichischer Tonkünstlerorchester, conducted by Robert Heger. Both Reger and Wührer have signed boldly on the cover of the trifold program. The program included Schumann's Piano Concerto and works by Brahms and Franck. Together with a flyer for another concert of Friedrich Wührer and two ticket stubs. Very fine. Folded size 4 x 8.25 inches (10 x 21 cm).
Sammelband containing 8 pieces of printed music for piano 4 hands, including first editions of works by Schumann, Gade and Schulhoff and early editions by Schubert and Mendelssohn. Of particular rarity and interest is the first edition arrangement of the Piano Quintet of Robert Schumann by his wife, the virtuoso pianist and composer Clara Schumann. In a letter to publisher Hermann Härtel (October 25, 2857), she writes: "I had mentioned to you once before that I wanted to simplify the arrangement of my husband's quintet. I have done so now and it cost me no little effort to do it without doing any harm to the composition. Happily, I believe that I have succeeded - I have played it myself with several people and nobody found it difficult. Would you like to have a look at it now or have some competent players play it for you, or would you rather wait until I myself come and then play it for you with somebody?" (Steegman, 173). Upright folio, bound volume measuring 13 x 10 inches (33 x 27 cm). "Vierhändig / 3." to front board. Black paper boards over dark green cloth, binding heavily scratched and worn, with frayed ends and split to front board seam. Handwritten Contents sheet bound in, 1-150 hand-numbered along top edge of all included works, bound in the following order. Scattered foxing throughout, some staining particularly to the upper right corner and outer edge of the first two and last 3 works, generally very good throughout. Read More...
Collection of signed photographs, including numerous important figures from the worlds of jazz and classical music, dance and entertainment, together with several autograph and typed letters signed. Some of the more notable names include Pearl Bailey, Sid Caesar, Robert Casadesus, Maurice Chevalier, Phyllis Curtin, Antal Dorati, Eileen Farrell, Lukas Foss, Edwin Frank Goldman, Dick Hyman, Robert Joffrey, Grant Johannesen, Andre Kostelanetz, Henry Mancini, Peter Mennin, Zubin Metha, Patrice Munsel, Wilfrid Pelletier, Max Rudolf, William Schumann, Gunther Schuller, Rise Stevens, Walter Susskind, Deems Taylor, Renata Tebaldi, Virgil Thomson, Jennie Tourel, Leonard Warren, Vitya Vrinsky and Victor Babin. Generally in fine condition and measuring 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm.) unless otherwise indicated. Complete alphabetical list, as follows: Read More...
A rare and finely carved bust portrait of the great composer, ca. 1850s, likely based on an early nineteenth-century engraving. Carved walnut with good color and patination. Light mounting remnants on the verso. 4.75 x 6.5 inches (12.2 x 16.5 cm). Secular portrait carvings from this era are uncommon. Read More...
Signed postcard from the great Hungarian composer who has amusingly signed "B2" and neatly penned "Pozsony, 1902 dec. 31" and "Boldog Új Évet!" ["Happy New Year!"] to recto corners surrounding a raised relief-printed image of a pig in a horseshoe eating a four-leaf clover, meant to evoke luck. Verso addressed in his hand to the great violinist Adila Aranyi [Fachiri]. Fine. 5.5 x 3.5 inches (8.9 x 14 cm.). Read More...
Three Leon Bakst Satin and Rayon Hooded Capes from "Papillons," ca. 1914. In fine condition, formerly property of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Read More...
Original program from a March 20, 1894 performance at St.Michaelis Kirche in Hamburg, featuring the famous contralto under the direction of Prof. Julius von Bernruth, with organist Carl Armbrust and the orchestra lead by violinist Henry Schradieck. 16 pp., includes full text. Spotting throughout, crease in lower right corner, final two pages with large tears and significant losses (nearly entirely lacking). Read More...
Bound upright folio. Lithographed. Mainz: B. Schotts Söhne, n.d. [1820s]. 51 pp. Bilingual edition, with title and all instructions in French and German. Signature with date, "Leopold Kauffm[ann] Hamburg 1836," to right head of title. Bowing and articulation in pencil to p. 3. 12.5 x 9.25 inches (31.3 x 23.6 cm). Half leather; upper board lost. Title damp stained to head and somewhat soiled. Fol. 4 (pp. 7-8) torn to gutter and with small ink stains. Some foxing.WorldCat lists only two copies, at the Juilliard School and and the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. This is an especially intriguing copy with interesting provenance. Read More...
Original program from a Leipzig Conservatorium der Musik concert on 4th November, 1851. 2 pp., scattered foxing, mild surface creases, overall very fine. 7.25 x 9.5 inches (18.5 x 24 cm.) Read More...
Rare concert broadside from the legendary violinist's first international tour, advertising a January 28, 1829 performance in Dresden at the Königliches Hoftheater. The "Kammer-Virtuoso" of His Majesty the Emperor of Austria was to perform several of his own pieces including the Second Violin Concerto (identifiable by the remark, "Rondo Allegretto, mit Begleitung eines Glöckchens" = with the accompaniment of a little bell), the Sonata Militare, and Introduction and Variationson the Cavatina ‘Di tanti palpiti’ from Rossini’s opera‘Tancredi’. The program was punctuated by arias, duets, and trios performed by a number of singers. Mounted to backing paper. Toning and foxing to the right side, two small areas of voiding, else in fine condition. 8.25 x 14.25 inches (21 x 36 cm). Read More...
A very finely executed silhouette portrait of the legendary violinist, signed and dated by an unknown Continental artist "R.B. 1830" to the lower right and titled "Sig[nor] Paganini." On a page measuring 6.25 x 8.25 inches, set in an attractive period birdseye maple veneer frame. A few small spots, else in fine condition. Read More...
5684. [Photography]. The Meserve Collection of Photography
An extraordinary and important collection of approximately 800 period albumen portrait photographs, composed of the bulk of Volumes 1-3 of the Frederick H. Meserve photography collection and including portraits of artists, writers, scientists, educators, musicians and others, among which are included rare photographs of Brahms, Dickens, Dumas, Darwin, Barton, Nightingale, Whitman, Poe, Sand, Hugo, Daguerre, Tchaikovsky and many, many more. A complete listing of included figures, organized by profession, is included below. Read More...