Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 68

The June 30th Manuscript and Collectibles Auction

Musicians

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 264		Chopin, Frédéric-François (1810-1849) Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. In 1831 he moved to Paris where he formed friendships with musicians such as Berlioz, Liszt, and Mendelssohn and where he met George Sand. He earned a living teaching and composing, primarily for the piano. Autograph Letter Signed ("Ch"), one page, in French, plus address leaf, 7 x 4½ in., Friday evening, n.d., n.p. (Paris). Addressed to Monsieur Henri Nouguier at 2 rue Colbert: "Dear Sir, I am yours tomorrow…at noon not before." He signs "a v[ous] de coeur," which he would only use with a friend. Two contemporary ink stains, one in the paraph below Chopin's signature. Normal folds and remnants of the red wax seal. A rare example of Chopin's hand. He moved to Paris in 1831 but disliked writing, fearing his French spelling. He usually autographed in abbreviation, "Ch" as he does here. Estimated Value $10,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $19,200
Lot 265		Dvorak, Antonin (1841-1904) Bohemian composer; known for adapting Czech folk music to serious Romantic music. The Slavonic Dances launched his international reputation. Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" was inspired by the time he spent in New York (1892-1895) as director of the National Conservatory of Music. Partly-printed Document Signed as director of the conservatory in Prague, Konservator Hudebni v praze, 7 pp, in Czech and German, 14¼ x 9¼ in., Prague, July 12, 1902. A certificate for Mr. Feist Gottfried who attended the conservatory from Sept. 16, 1898 to July 12, 1902. Dvorak signed on the second page. Pages 1 and 5 have revenue stamps; page 6 retains much of a red wax seal. Pages are toned and worn with some small (1-1½") fold splits and some old tape repairs to edges. Still an attractive document and rare. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,560
Lot 266		Liszt, Franz (1811-1886) Hungarian pianist, composer, teacher, and conductor. Autograph Letter Signed ("F. Liszt"), in German, one page, 7¾ x 4¾ in., Budapest, Feb. 11, 1886. Five and a half months before his death, Liszt writes to "Dearest Cousin Marie," telling her that he is sending her a copy of the Hungarian Rhapsody. Liszt wrote a total of 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies between 1851 and 1886. Archivally matted and framed with an image of Liszt as an older man to an overall size of 13½ x 16½ in. Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,800
Lot 267		Puccini, Giacomo (1858-1924) Italian operatic composer. His operas, most of which had tragic love themes, include Manon Lescaut (1893), La Bohème (1896), Tosca (1900), and Madama Butterfly (1904). Autograph Letter Signed, one page, 6¾ x 5 in., Torre del Lago, Toscana, Feb. 11, 1917. Untranslated but mentioning Verdi. Archivally matted and framed with an image of Puccini to an overall size of 14 x 18¾ in. Estimated Value $800 - 1,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,320
Lot 268		Strauss, Richard (1864-1949) German composer and conductor, known for his tone poems and operas, among which are Der Rosencavalier and Salomé. Autograph Letter Signed, 1½ pp (recto/verso), 7 x 4½ in., Garmisch, July 20, 1929. Addressed to Herr Szendrei, concerning a radio concert to be given on October 20, and suggesting a possible program to include some of his most famous works. Strauss writes that the permanent conductors at Leipzig should prepare the program so that Strauss himself will need only two rehearsals, and asks whether the concert will be open to the public. He lists his suggestions for the program, including selections from Tod and Verklärung, Also Sprach Zarathrustra, Don Juan, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, and Till Eulenspiegel. Old tape remnants at left margin do not affect text or signature. Excellent content. Estimated Value $700 - 900. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $432
Lot 269		Strauss, Richard. Autograph Letter Signed, written on the back of a postcard, in German, Warquartstein, Aug. 8, 1903. To Dr. Richard Batka, Musical Author, in Prague-Weinberge, with musical content. In part: "…I would hence definitely ask for a small book on Development of the Bohemian Music (not Smetana solely, please), hence a history of the Bohemian Musical Art, especially as regards the question whether it has preserved its own character, its beginnings in the oldest past, and then to what extent it was influenced by German and Italian Music and also in how far it has contributed to their progress (through Smetana)…I only propose to issue it as the second volume of a series of five treatises…." Boldly penned and signed. Accompanied by a translation. Estimated Value $700 - 900. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $432
Lot 270		Stravinsky, Igor (1882-1971) Russian-born American pianist, composer, and conductor; considered one of the greatest composers of the 20th century. Autograph Musical Quotation Signed and dated, "Dec 11/61" and inscribed "To ? Gladis Thomson." The two bars from an unidentified piece are penned and signed in blue ink on a 3¼ x 5¼ in. card or paper. Matted with a large image of Stravinsky and framed to an overall size of 27½ x 19 in.; unobtrusive 1½ in. crack in the plexiglass at upper right corner, mostly covered by frame. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photos	Realized $1,440
Lot 271		Stravinsky, Igor & Soulima Stravinsky. 2 x 3 in. card engraved with the name of Mrs. Sue Prosser, Inscribed and Signed by Igor Stravinsky, "with best wishes…I Stravinsky." On the verso of the card is an Autograph Musical Quotation Signed "Soulima Stravinsky" by Igor's son. Soulima (1910-1994) was a pianist and an important interpreter of his father's works. Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photos	Unsold
Lot 272		1847 Handmade Music Book. 3½ x 8¾ in. leather covers, with "Thomas M. Reese's Music Book July 20th 1847 Marshalton Band" written on the front cover, along with a clarinet. On the back cover, he drew a picture of himself in uniform playing the clarinet. Approximately 80 pieces of music, all handwritten, are contained within the book, many of them marches; some are marked for Bb clarinet, some for 2nd cornet, etc. Titles include "General Taylor's Grand March for the Bugle," "Washington's March--1st Bb Clarinett," Hail to the Chief," "Boston Quick Step. 2nd Cornett." A charming musical memento. Estimated Value $300 - 500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $135
Lot 273		[French Revolution] French National Anthem: "Marche des Marseillois" (La Marseillaise). Small broadside, early printing of "Marche des Marseillois" which became the French National Anthem: "La Marseillaise," one page, 8½ x 7 in., printed on laid paper, c. 1790s. Overall toning and light soiling. Housed in a vintage custom-made folder The quintessential call to arms was composed in 1792 by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, a captain of engineers in the French army, after the French declared war on Austria. Volunteers from Marseilles heard the song and joined in storming the Tuileries on Aug. 10,1792. It grew in popularity and was declared a national song on July 14, 1795. Banned under the Empire and the Restoration, La Marseillaise was reinstated by the July Revolution of 1830, and the Third Republic (1879) established it as the French national anthem. Even many non-French speakers know the stirring opening: "Allons enfants de la patrie / Le jour de gloire est arrivé…." Estimated Value $3,000 - 5,000. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 274		[Musicians] Anton Rubinstein & Five Others. Autograph Musical Quotations Signed by six musicians and composers, five on one 10 x 12¼ sheet and one on an 8 x 6 in. page of stationery. On the large sheet, the Belgian composer, Albert Grisar (1808-1869), wrote a bar of music and signed and dated it Anvers, 6 November 1840. Below Grisar, a ten-year-old Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894) inscribes his AMQS in French to Mlle Elisa Meerti, and signs himself as a pupil of Mr. Alexander Villoing, Vienna, 1939. Villoing's AMQS is below Rubinstein's and is dated Vienna, 2 April 1842. At the bottom of the page, an older, famous Rubinstein signs and writes boldly in French, "30 years later…" On the verso, the Italian tenor Giovanni Battista Rubini (1794-1854) wrote an AMQS with lyrics and dated it London, 6 July 1841. Below Rubini is another AMQS by someone whose name we can't make out, dated Vienna, 27 March 1842. On a piece of stationery belonging to a young American who studied music in Europe, and who may have collected all of these AMQSs, Vladimir de Pachmann (1848-1933), known as one of the greatest exponents of Chopin, wrote an AMQS but did not date it; a faint penciled date, February 4, 1924, is written lower in another hand. The sheets are toned and lightly soiled. All writing is dark and bold. Estimated Value $600 - 800. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $810