Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 45

Manuscript, Collectibles and Aerospace Auction

Musicians

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 848		Gershwin, George. George Gershwin's Song-Book, signed, New York: Random House, 1932, 1st Ed., No. 109 of 300 copies. Original morocco gilt; edges rubbed; professional conservation to lower spine. Also signed by the illustrator, Alajalov, and, on a separate page, by singer Gerald Shattuck. With the 8-page pamphlet containing the song "Mischa, Yascha, Toscha, Sascha" loosely inserted in a special pocket at back. Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $5,175
Lot 849		Handy, W.C (1873-1958) Musician, composer, and publisher of music known as the "Father of the Blues"; he was one of the most influential American songwriters. TLS on red, white, and blue Handy Brothers Music Co., Inc. letterhead, 1p, 11" x 8½", New York, 1943 May 15. To an admirer in California, sending a signed photo and copy of the "Saint Louis Blues" (neither present). He adds, "I am closing my engagement with the Billy Rose Diamond Horseshoe show where I have appeared for about ten months…I am going to try to make a trip to the Pacific Coast this year…I think such a trip would mean much to my business, and also would give me the urge to try for another composition like the SAINT LOUIS BLUES…" Very good; a few old tape remnant marks at margins. Excellent content. Estimated Value $1,700 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 850		Kern, Jerome (1885-1945) American composer of popular music, and scores for musical theater and films. TLS ("Jerry") on personal memo paper, 5½" x 8½", Beverly Hills, California, 1939 Jan. 10. To Edna Ferber, on the subject of "Deferred Pleasure." He writes, in part: "It's asking an awful lot but, since you really wish it, I promise you to await February and the book…." In 1927 Kern and Oscar Hammerstein wrote the famous musical Show Boat, which was based on Ferber's book. Estimated Value $350 - 450. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $661
Lot 851		Porter, Cole (1891-1964) American composer and songwriter. TLS ("Cole"), on "The Barclay / Rittenhouse Square East / Philadelphia" letterhead, 1p, 10½" x 7¼", 1944 Nov. 29. To Monty Woolley, his long-time friend and companion, whom he affectionately called "Beard." Porter makes a reference to Tennyson, then writes: "I know you will be very bored to hear that I have a colossal hit on my hands called SEVEN LIVELY ARTS. I stuck your name in one of the lyrics last night just to keep your memory alive." The show, which featured the standard "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye," actually turned out to be a flop. Light toning, else fine. Estimated Value $600 - 800. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $920
Lot 852		Porter, Cole. TLS ("Cole") on Waldorf-Astoria letterhead, 1p, 10½" x 7¼", New York, 1950 June 15. To "Stannie," with thanks for a birthday wire and inviting him to lunch; also, a 1½" x 3" card engraved "Cole Porter," which is marked through and "A hot Xmas dear Sam. Cole" in Porter's hand. Both of these items were sent to Fran Rybarski by Porter's friend Samuel Stark, with two 1969 TLsS "Sam" on 6" x 4" Snoopy stationery and excellent content about Cole Porter. ".Cole always wrote/printed upside-down with his left hand….You should have seen the Rube Goldberg contraption he used when composing….he claimed that no one ever aided him with his lyrics, with the exception of William Shakespeare in KISS ME KATE…." (The Samuel Stark Theatre Collection is at Stanford University). Estimated Value $400 - 800. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 853		Puccini, Giacomo (1858-1924) Italian operatic composer. Among his operas, most of which have tragic love themes, are Manot Lescaut (1893), La Bohème (1896), Tosca (1900), Madame Butterfly (1904), and La fanciulla del west (1910). AMuQS from Tosca, in black ink on a postcard illustrating a scene from Tosca and bearing a 1901 Italian postmark. The other side is addressed in Puccini's hand to Signor Pittore Delhermino in Florence. Very fine; minor toning; matted and double framed so that both sides are visible; frame has some damage at the lower edge and upper right edge, not affecting the postcard. The overall size is 13"x11¼". This is one of the premier Puccini musical quotations which are beoming increasingly scarce. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $2,875
Lot 854		Szigetti, Joseph (1892-1973) Legendary Hungarian-American violinist. Six ALsS and three TLsS, Inner-Arosa, Palos Verdes Estates, Céligny, written from 24 July 1946 to 13 October 1958. Various sizes, from folio to small 4to. To pianist Joseph Levine (in Philadelphia), most regarding concert arrangements and recordings. A few excerpts: 24 July 1946 "…I am sure that you will prepare the repertoire so well that we will be able to 'get away' with this risky arrangement….A detailed repertoire list will follow. For the present I will ask you to prepare to the best of your abilities: the second Busoni Sonata (Breitkopf) a most exciting pianistic task, also the Stravinsky Divertimento (Edition de Musique Rusee) which you might be able to find at Galaxy Music Corp. or at the Curtis or at some violinist's…" 29 May 1947 ".I am happy to think that our work next season will be mapped out carefully and prepared in a more leisurely manner than during this past October. To help you to do this I will be sending you a few of the piano scores in the next few days, so that we can perhaps run over some things before I leave for Europe…I assume that you have the Prokofieff Sonata, which we definitely will be playing in Toronto, Chicago, and elsewhere. The Mozart Concerto is another certainty…" 15 April 1949 "…The Mozart-Flesch (Peters) piano score is so wonderfully complete and solves our many problems (which we discussed last winter) so amazingly that I am having a copy sent to you. It is of course a challenge but I am sure, a pianist with your capacities will rejoice in meeting this challenge!…" 13 October 1958 "…I had a very busy and fruitful summer over here, giving a Bach masterclass in conjunction with Casals' Beethoven Class in Zermatt, playing at different Festivals (the one in Sevilla, the Busoni week in Empoli and so on)…." Also included is a 1955 TLS to Levine's wife, eight letters from Szigeti's manager Herbert Barrett to Levine (New York 1947-1972), and six letters from Levine to Szigeti (1948-1971). Overall condition is fine. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,500. Stargardt, Nov. 2006, Lot 947. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $978
Lot 855		The Trapp Family Singers. Program from a concert performed at Christ Church, Fitchburg (Mass.), January 26, 1941, signed in pencil by Baroness von Trapp, Maria von Trapp, Martina von Trapp and Werner (?) von Trapp, as well as by Franz Wasner, the Trapp Family's conductor, 9" x 6", matted and framed to 15" x 14". The Trapp Family Singers were Visiting Artists and their program consisted of classical music. The family, made famous by the film The Sound of Music (1965) was an actual Austrian family who left behind everything when the Nazis invaded Austria and came to America, eventually setting in Vermont. The Trapp Family Singers toured the world for 20 years. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 856		Berlin, Irving, Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael & Paul Whiteman. Irving Berlin signature in blue ink on a 3" x 5" white card, with a First Day Cover honoring Berlin and a block of 20 stamps featuring Berlin; Louis Armstrong 3" x 5" toned card signed in blue-green ink and inscribed, "To Jim," dated on the back Dec. 20, 1952; Hoagy Carmichael 2-page autograph letter, signed "Hoag" regarding coins he is sorting and appraising; and Paul Whiteman photo signed and inscribed to Abe Ginsberg. Very good to fine. Estimated Value $400 - 600. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold