The Autographs and Collectible Memorabilia Blog

Henryk Wieniawski: Violin Prodigy and Gifted Composer

The name of Henryk Wieniawski has been synonymous with perfection in violin performance, along with the virtuosic fireworks and sublime melodies his music offers. Wieniawski deservedly occupies a unique position in the history of violin playing. He was a brilliant virtuoso whom contemporary critics and music lovers regarded as the re-incarnation of...

Alessandro Moreschi: The Last Castrato

On the 21st April 1922, the very last singer of a Western musical tradition going back at least 500 years died. Young Alessandro Moreschi (shown here singing at a young age) was a castrato, and from him we have the only recordings of a voice type obtained through castration before...

Star Trek Memorabilia: Many Treasures From a Vast Universe

When it comes to memorabilia collectors, you're not likely to find many groups more passionate about their subject matter than those that collect Star Trek items. And considering the original show's multiple spin-offs, movies, books, graphic novels, an animated series, and its many other iterations, the abundance of potential collectibles...

Maria Malibran - Fame and Tragedy

Daughter of the celebrated singer and voice teacher Manuel García, Maria Malibran was to become one of the most revered and influential singers of the first half of the 19th century. Born in Paris in 1808, Maria Malibran started her journey from Paris. She was taken to Italy at the...

Anton Rubinstein – Talented Pianist and Educator

Anton Grigorevich Rubinstein was a widely respected Russian pianist, composer, and conductor during the second half of the 19th century. He is most famous for founding the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and a series of concerts that covered the history of the piano music. However, there is much more to the...

Manuel Garcia Senior (1775-1832), Patriarch of a Singing Dynasty

Although 18th century Spain produced many distinguished artists, only a handful of them reached long-standing stardom and exerted significant influence over bel canto. In the 17th century - and contrarily to Italy, France, or Germany - Spain was primarily the cradle of zarzuelas. These include the baroque zarzuelas, which arguably...

Paul Dukas – The Great French Composer and a Critic

A French composer, scholar, critic, and teacher of composition, Paul Abraham Dukas was born in Paris on October 1, 1865. A diligent man with a modest personality, Paul Dukas was an intense self-critic. For these self-critical characteristics, he destroyed many of his compositions. While he wrote lots of music in...

Opera Singers Who Died in the Holocaust

On 30 January 1933, life changed for every German citizen and for some, very dangerously indeed. Adolf Hitler's Nazi Party was declared the only legal political entity in Germany, and they began to put their plans in place for segregating everyone who did not fit their "Aryan" ideal. These people...

Grand Opera - The Story of the Met by Charles and Mirella Affron - Book Review

Review of the book Grand Opera - The Story of the Metropolitan Opera by Charles Affron and Mirella Affron.

Top 15 Famous Violinists of All Time

Violin playing technique and styles have evolved drastically and considerably over the past 300 years from the time of Giuseppe Tartini in the late 1600s till to-day. Many violinists have left a lasting legacy on the world of violin playing but only a few can truly claim their title as...

Marilyn Monroe Memorabilia - The Testament of an Icon

Marilyn Monroe was an icon. Even today, nearly 60 years after her death, Ms. Monroe's legacy endures and likely always will. Despite numerous efforts to replicate her fame — Marilyn Monroe, nee Norma Jean Mortenson, stands out among Hollywood royalty. Here she is depicted in a famous scene in the...

Opera Tenors: Top Historical Spanish Singers

MANUEL DEL POPULO VICENTE GARCIA (Sevilla 1775 - Paris 1832) A tenor of historic importance, the creator of Almaviva in the world premiere of Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia in 1816. He also excelled as composer and teacher of singing, and wrote one of the most important and referential treatises on...

Anna Pavlova: Her Life and Career...in Color!

Anna Pavlova is one of the most famous ballerinas in the history of the artform. Born in Russia, she dazzled audiences around the world in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with her artistry, grace, and athleticism. She was also a woman ahead of her time in other ways....

What Are the Factors that Determine Autograph Values?

Ok, so in another article, we have described how the value of an autograph can be estimated by comparisons. Here we discuss in a little bit more detail the factors affecting the value of your autograph item. And the most important factor is (hear drums): COST If you are a...

Archival Framing: 10 Best Recommendations to Protect your Autographs

As collectors and autograph dealers, we regularly come across framed historical photographs and documents, which have to be removed from the frame. WHAT IS ARCHIVAL FRAMING? Archival framing is a type of work done to place your items in a frame (framing) using a certain quality of materials and methods....

Frame Shop Selection: Finding the Best Frame Shop for Your Autographs

Like other forms of goods and services advertising, we are inundated with countless ads for framing services by arts and crafts chains as well as local mom and pop framing stores. These ads show you pictures of framed artwork and maybe even the interior of their stores with their attractive displays. However, behind...

Opera vs Operetta vs Musical...What's the Difference?

Learn about the differences between opera vs operetta vs musical. Like many artforms, the dividing lines between stage works including music are blurred.

Book "The Performances of Richard Strauss Operas in the 20th Century" - In 2 Volumes

During a hot weekend in August 1973 I sat on my terrace and lookedthrough old magazines not yet read and found an article which stated that one has to choose his hobby for the time after retiring at the latest at the age of forty, otherwise it will not work....

Strange Collectibles: Odd Things that People Collect

From rare coins and autographs to vintage comic books and valuable documents, are the things people collect and collectors carefully acquire and catalogue a wide variety of items. Hobbyists often see collecting as an enjoyable way to spend their free time. Some collectors are motivated by the investment value. Others...

Farewell to Christa Ludwig

Christa Ludwig, one of the greatest mezzo-sopranos of the 20th century, passed away at the age of 93 at her home in Klosterneuburg, Austria. Ms. Ludwig was a renowned singer and stage actor who brought power and charisma to every song and role. Her career spanned close to half a...

Percy Grainger – The Greatest Pianist and Champion of Folk Music

Australian-born pianist and composer-arranger Percy Grainger is often credited with helping to revive interest in British folk music in the early 20th century. His work and his personal life were colourful, leaving behind a legacy that people continue to discuss. Explore the life of Percy Grainger to gain more insight...

The Violin Prodigy Child of Our Time

One of the most common criteria for identifying a child prodigy is someone who, by roughly ten years, shows an unusual grasp or proficiency in fundamentals in an area mostly undertaken by adults. Violin child prodigy is the most vaunted child prodigies. Are these children born with these special talents,...

Autograph Value - How to Find It and Other Autograph Worth Questions

Tips on how to find autograph values - What are the most important factors, and answers to some of the most popular questions related to autograph worth

The Liebig Trade Cards: The Opera Series

The collectible cards of the Liebig Meat Extract Company were not only extremely popular when they were first released in 1872, but remain so to this day even over a hundred years later, In a time before commercial travel and mass information, they provided an eye-opening window to the wider...

THE AUTOGRAPH BLOG

Henryk Wieniawski: Violin Prodigy and Gifted Composer

Alessandro Moreschi: The Last Castrato

Star Trek Memorabilia: Many Treasures From a Vast Universe

Maria Malibran - Fame and Tragedy

Anton Rubinstein – Talented Pianist and Educator

Manuel Garcia Senior (1775-1832), Patriarch of a Singing Dynasty

Paul Dukas – The Great French Composer and a Critic

Opera Singers Who Died in the Holocaust

Grand Opera - The Story of the Met by Charles and Mirella Affron - Book Review

Top 15 Famous Violinists of All Time

Marilyn Monroe Memorabilia - The Testament of an Icon

Opera Tenors: Top Historical Spanish Singers

Anna Pavlova: Her Life and Career...in Color!

What Are the Factors that Determine Autograph Values?

Archival Framing: 10 Best Recommendations to Protect your Autographs

Frame Shop Selection: Finding the Best Frame Shop for Your Autographs

Opera vs Operetta vs Musical...What's the Difference?

Learn about the differences between opera vs operetta vs musical. Like many artforms, the dividing lines between stage works including music are blurred.

Book "The Performances of Richard Strauss Operas in the 20th Century" - In 2 Volumes

Strange Collectibles: Odd Things that People Collect

Farewell to Christa Ludwig

Percy Grainger – The Greatest Pianist and Champion of Folk Music

The Violin Prodigy Child of Our Time

Autograph Value - How to Find It and Other Autograph Worth Questions

The Liebig Trade Cards: The Opera Series

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Autograph Collecting Guide

Framing and Storing Autographs