The Autographs and Collectible Memorabilia Blog

Lucine Amara – An American Soprano Celebrity

A Biography of Lucine Amara Lucine Amara died of heart failure and a respiratory infection on September 6, 2024 at the age of 99. She had a long musical career that spanned from 1945 to 1987 and performed in numerous locations around the world. As a operatic soprano, she sang...

Collecting Autographs: What Do People Collect

CELEBRITY AUTOGRAPHS A celebrity implies a condition of public recognition and attention from the media. Those who fall into this category are many times asked to sign photos, programs, records and all kinds of objects - sometimes, bizarre ones. [IMAGE] The celebrated Greek-American soprano Maria Callas at Orly Airport, France,...

Help Our Book Projects: Teatro Colon, Patti & Met Opera

Tamino Autographs is working on 3 separate book projects, which will be published at different times Dear Collectors: Help our book projects by sharing with us any scans of material you may have. We do not need the originals - you will of course be acknowledged! TEATRO COLON: A Visual History: This...

Autograph Authenticity: Is Authentic, Enough?

Many times we see this question in forums as well as in emails to us from collectors and private sellers. The short answer is NO. Autographs can be authentically signed by the signer but that does not mean they are valuable financially or collectable, and they may not be...

I want to SELL autographs - Do I need to Authenticate them?

The short answer is that for the most part, no. The buyer will most likely be a dealer, and he should know what he buys. If you are selling to a collector, he should also know what he is buying. [CLICKABLE IMAGE] A beautiful black-and-white photograph signed by Walter Lantz...

We are at the London Rare Book Fair 2024!

One of the most popular antiquarian book fairs in the world, and the largest of its kind in Europe, Firsts London Antiquarian Book Fair has just opened at the Saatchi Gallery in London Well over 100 dealers exhibit and sell their best items, including not just antiquarian collectible books...

Maurizio Pollini: The Life and Times of a Celebrated Pianist

[CLICKABLE IMAGE] A young Maurizio Pollini Maurizio Pollini was a famed Italian pianist. He was born on 5 January 1942 and died on 23 March 2024 at the age of 82. For the latter half of the 20th century, Pollini was hailed as one of the greats of...

Visit us at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair 2024!

Every year, over 25,000 visitors enjoy this fair, the largest - and the most international - of its kind in the world. Around 200 dealers get together for this event, which is not to be missed!. We are again present, this time on booth B27, with a small sample of...

Investing in Autographs: 6 Things You Need to Consider

Investing in autographs is a compelling niche in the world of collectibles, combining the allure of personal connection with historical figures and celebrities with the potential for substantial financial gain. Every collector wants to also think his autographs are a good investment, but the truth is that is not always...

Seiji Ozawa: A Life and Career in Classical Music

Born September 1st, 1935, Seiji Ozawa passed away at the age of 88 on February 6th, 2024. Seiji Ozawa was a renowned orchestra conductor with a career spanning over five decades, most notably as the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1973 to 2002. Ozawa was celebrated for...

Tchaikovsky in America - In his Own Words

Did you know that Tchaikovsky came to America for the inauguration of Carnegie Hall, in New York, in 1891?. The composer conducted his own music, and visited other American cities during the 4+ weeks he was in the USA. We can follow his trip by reading some extracts from his...

Collecting Music Autographs: An Appealing Hobby

Collecting music autographs has universal appeal, making it the most dynamic field in autograph collecting. This specialization is unique in its universal appeal; while assembling collections of signers of the Declaration of Independence or American presidents might not interest most German or Japanese collectors, they are likely to share with...

Halcyon Years at the Met: 1921-1926

General Manager Giulio Gatti-Casazza’s repertory policy remained unchanged for the seasons immediately following the death of Enrico Caruso. With seemingly inexhaustible funds at his disposal, he mounted new productions of revivals that were wonderfully cast and usually well received. Novelties also proliferated but were, at best, hailed as interesting experiments. New...

"Maestro" Movie in Review - A Leonard Bernstein Biopic

Maestro is a biographical drama film directed by and starring Bradley Cooper as legendary American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Boasting impeccable technical merits from cinematography to production design, the film still falls into a common biopic trap of lacking emotional resonance even as it aims to capture a cultural...

How to Avoid Buying Autographs from Fake Sites

SAFEGUARD YOURSELF FROM FAKE AUTOGRAPH SHOPPING WEBSITES As the world shifts more towards online shopping, it's crucial to recognize and avoid the pitfalls that come with it. One such pitfall is the proliferation of fake shopping websites. These sites appear legitimate but are designed to steal your money or personal...

7 Things to Do for An Autograph Session

You're going to meet someone famous at an event or party. Beforehand, there are several things you should consider doing to prepare for the experience. KNOW WHO YOU ARE MEETING If you're meeting someone who's well-known, you'll probably want to make sure you've done some research beforehand. This will help...

Marston Records - A Story

MARSTON RECORDS IS NOW 26 Scott Kessler and I founded Marston Records in 1997, so it is now twenty-six years old. Starting the label was a natural extension of the audio restoration work I had been doing since 1976, remastering historic recordings of musical performances reissued by labels such as...

The Sembrich Museum: History, Collection, and Events

Marcella Sembrich: Her Life and Career The Sembrich Museum originally served as teaching studio for Marcella Sembrich. She was a famed Polish musician, soprano, and teacher active throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Sembrich's first performance in the opera took place in 1877 in Athens. She then moved...

Beethoven Hair: In Search for the Truth

Reality may often be weirder than fiction, with more planning and rifer with an accident that could be envisaged in a composition generated only by the mind. One example of this aspect is Russell Martin's Beethoven's Hair: An Extraordinary Historical Odyssey and a Scientific Mystery Solved. Some components may shake even...

No German at the Met: 1917-1921

In 1917, the Metropolitan Opera could hardly ignore the fact that the United States was at war with Germany, the homeland of the Richards Wagner and Strauss, and of many of the singers who sang their music. The German language would not be sung again from the stage of the...

Richard Wagner's Visit to London in 1855: A Turning Point in His Career

One of the most enduringly influential composers of the 19th century, Richard Wagner made three visits to London. His first, in 1839, was almost accidental - caused by the travel requirements of the Wagners large Newfoundland dog, and a planned trip to Paris. [CLICKABLE IMAGE] A portrait of the celebrated...

Schubert Geburtshaus in Vienna - Exploring Where it All Began

Schubert Geburtshaus, or Schubert’s birthplace, is a museum in Vienna, Austria, dedicated to the life and work of composer Franz Schubert. The museum is located in the building where Schubert was born. Here, a young Schubert took his first explorative steps in the world - long before he became known...

Francesco Tamagno - The Fantastic Tenor and First Otello

Francesco Tamagno was born in Turin on December 28th 1850. His family was from the peripheral area “Barriera di Milano”, where they run a trattoria (small family-run casual restaurant). Unfortunately, after the Cholera outbreak of 1854, parents Margherita and Carlo were left with only 5 of their 15 sons. Among...

The Met 1910-17: The Toscanini Era and the Winds of War

NEW BROOMS At the start of the 1910-11 season, Giulio Gatti-Casazza and Arturo Toscanini had secured mastery over the artistic fortunes of the Met, but rather than settle into complacency, they strengthened their resolve to give New York a program of meticulously prepared revivals of the standard repertoire, premieres of...

THE AUTOGRAPH BLOG

Lucine Amara – An American Soprano Celebrity

Collecting Autographs: What Do People Collect

Help Our Book Projects: Teatro Colon, Patti & Met Opera

Autograph Authenticity: Is Authentic, Enough?

I want to SELL autographs - Do I need to Authenticate them?

We are at the London Rare Book Fair 2024!

Maurizio Pollini: The Life and Times of a Celebrated Pianist

Visit us at the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair 2024!

Investing in Autographs: 6 Things You Need to Consider

Seiji Ozawa: A Life and Career in Classical Music

Tchaikovsky in America - In his Own Words

Collecting Music Autographs: An Appealing Hobby

Halcyon Years at the Met: 1921-1926

"Maestro" Movie in Review - A Leonard Bernstein Biopic

How to Avoid Buying Autographs from Fake Sites

7 Things to Do for An Autograph Session

Marston Records - A Story

The Sembrich Museum: History, Collection, and Events

Beethoven Hair: In Search for the Truth

No German at the Met: 1917-1921

Richard Wagner's Visit to London in 1855: A Turning Point in His Career

Schubert Geburtshaus in Vienna - Exploring Where it All Began

Francesco Tamagno - The Fantastic Tenor and First Otello

The Met 1910-17: The Toscanini Era and the Winds of War

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