Singers - Autograph Manuscripts

American soprano (1850-1891). Long autograph letter signed, dated in 1873, 7 folded pages in English, written on the stationary of Munroe and Company, Paris and New York. Size of each page is 5.25 x 8 inches, very slight tear on one page, otherwise in excellent condition.

Italian soprano (1904-1998). Autograph letter signed written to La Scala administration, dated in 1963. Written in Italian, sold untranslated. Size is 8.5 x 11 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian soprano and teacher (1882-1954). One page receipt for payment in Lire with letterhead of the Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, dated in April 2010 and signed by the artist. Size is 6.75 x 9 inches, slight paper loss at very top not affecting the writing, and folds, otherwise in very good condition.

Slovenian contralto (1927-1985), signed note as Marceline, dated in 1950. Also included an unsigned photo shown as herself. Size is 4 x 5.75 inches. 

Star Canadian dramatic soprano (1847-1930), the first Canadian singer to become an international star. Autograph letter signed, 1 page written in English. Size is 4 x 5 inches, in excellent condition. 

Dutch-born French baritone (1866-1926). Autograph letter signed, dated in Paris in 1926, 3 pages, written in French, sold untranslated. Each page is 5.25 x 7.25 inches, in excellent condition. 

Italian soprano (1825-1898). Autograph letter signed, undated one page. Size is 5.25 x 8.25 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian mezzo-soprano/contralto (1826-1894), also known as Marietta Alboni-Pepoli.  Signed album page, inscribed and dated in Paris, 1860, plus a photo of her attached at the top.  Album page is mounted on a mat of 11.8 x 15.75 inches (can be easily removed), mounted with photo corners.  Actual album page is 8.5 x 12 inches, minor rust stains, otherwise in very good condition.

Italian mezzo-soprano/contralto (1826-1894), also known as Marietta Alboni.  Autograph letter signed, dated in 1854, 1 page, written in French and sold untranslated. Bold handwriting and signature. Size is 5.25 x 8.25 inches, small creases, folds, and bullet holes, otherwise in very good condition.

New Zealand-born Australian-raised operatic Soprano Frances Alda (1879-1952), 1.75 x 5 inch signature cut, written in French, mounted onto a 6.5 x 8.25 inch album page. Also included on that page: a 2.5 x 6 inch signature cut of the American Film actress Madge Kennedy (1891-1987). Slight wear on the larger album page but otherwise in excellent condition. 

Italian soprano (1896-1985), autograph letter signed on personal stationary, 1 unfolded page, written in Italian, sold untranslated. Size is 7 x 10.5 inches, in excellent condition. 

American tenor (1889-1954), particularly associated with the Metropolitan Opera of New York and for his later career in Wagnerian roles. Typed letter signed on his personal letterhead in New York, dated in 1936. Size is 8.5 x 11 inches, several small creases and small tears, otherwise in good condition.

French tenor (1861-1933). Autograph letter signed, dated in 1905. Written in French, sold untranslated. 3 pages of text on a folded document of 4 pages. Total size of unfolded document is 8.75 x 7 pages, in excellent condition.

Italian baritone (1878-1942) who enjoyed an international reputation and sang for 13 years at the Metropolitan Opera. Signed postcard with image of Pompei temple. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, small stains on verso, otherwise in very good condition. 

Italian baritone (1860-1931), starred as Silvio in the world premiere of Leoncavallo's Pagliacci. Autograph letter signed, written on both sides of a card with the emblem of the Grand Hotel de Londres in Naples, dated in 1906. Written in Italian, sold untranslated. Size is 3.5 x 5 inches, some wear and creases on top left and in the center of the card, priced accordingly. 

Widely celebrated American contralto Marian Anderson (1897-1993), the first black person, American or otherwise, to perform at the at the Metropolitan Opera and an inspiration to many future African American performers. Signed album page with 1 bar of music from J.S. Bach, dated in 1937.  Also included: verso page contains 4 signatures and accompanying musical quotes by all 4 members of the Aguilar Quartet, a famous Spanish Lute quartet that performed on tour in the 1920s and 30s, dated in 1938. Size is 5.75 x 7.75 inches, in excellent condition. 

American contralto (1897-1993), highly celebrated in her time, being the first black person, American or otherwise, to perform at the Metropolitan Opera.  Printed score for the song "Dearest Night" by Alfred Bachelet, signed by the American contralto on the front cover.  Size is 9 x 11.8 inches, 8 pages including covers, in excellent condition.

American contralto (1897-1993), highly celebrated in her time. The first black person to perform at the Metropolitan Opera and an inspiration to many Afro-American performers.  Signed receipt for the payment of a recital on December 7th, 1934 in Geneve, Switzerland; nicely matted with a photo of her shown young.  Total mat size is 15.25 x 11.3 inches, receipt is 4.75 x 4.25 inches (storage holes), photo is 4.75 x 6.7 inches (visible window size), all in excellent condition.

Norwegian bass (1896-1940), who had an active international career and was especially known for Mozart and Wagnerian roles. Typed letter signed, on the stationary of the Ansonia Hotel in New York in 1930 with the handwritten signature at the bottom of the letter, size is 7.25 x 10.5 inches, small stain outside area of the text, otherwise in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED: Unsigned postcard photograph, shown in role, a photo by Ursula Richter, Dresden, Size is 3.5 x 5.25 inches, in excellent condition. Not sold separately. 

Swedish dramatic soprano (1861-1943). Autograph note signed, 1 page written in French, sold untranslated. Signed as "Sigrid Arnoldson-Fischof", reflected her marriage to Austrian impresario Alfred Fischof. Size is 4.5 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition.

French-Spanish soprano (1876-1933), one of the most important sopranos in Germany during the early years of the 20th century. She developed her career singing mostly in Germany, and created the role of Octavian in the world premiere of Richard Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier in 1911, among other roles. Autograph note signed, dated in 1917. Written in German on both sides of a 4 x 6 card, in excellent condition.   

Australian soprano (1892-1968), signed album page. Size is 4 x 2.5 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian baritone (1916-?), autograph note signed with attached half-tone photo, shown as himself (photo is taped onto an album page with signature on the top of the page above the photo).  Additional inscription on verso, dated in 1947 with attractive hand-written drawing of a countryside and river with a boat. Size is 4 x 6 inches, in excellent condition.

Scottish soprano (1895-1983), typed letter signed, written in 1979. 1 page written in English. Size is 6 x 8 inches, in excellent condition. 

Italian mezzo-soprano (1920-2003), very famous in 1940s- 1960s for Italian opera repertoire, especially Verdi. Lot of 3 typed letters signed written to La Scala impresario Antonio Ghiringhelli. All in Italian, sold untranslated. 1 letter typed in 1947, the other 2 in 1950. Of various lengths, all are in excellent condition. Sold only as lot. 

Italian tenor (b. 1930) who had a prolific career during the 1950's through the 1970's. Autograph letter signed, 2 pages, written on both sides of hotel stationary of the Hotel Prado-Alffer in Mexico City. Written in Italian, sold untranslated. Size is 7.25 x 10.5 inches, in excellent condition. Also included: 2 photo clippings from newspapers showing him both in role and as himself. 

Italian contralto, creator of the role of La Cieca in Ponchielli's La Gioconda in 1876. Autograph letter signed, dated in 1880. 3 pages of a 4-page folded document, written in Italian, sold untranslated. Each page is 5 x 8.25 inches, total item size is 8.25 x 10.25 inches, in excellent condition.

American tenor, actor, and comedian (1833-1917), performed in musicals and related entertainment. Signed album page, dated in 1886. 7.5 x 11-inch page with tears on the left side, but otherwise in very good condition.

French baritone (1810-1971), appeared in the world premiere productions of Donizetti's La Favorite, Roberto Deveraux, L'Assedio di Calais, and Dom Sebastien, as well as several operas by Fromental Halevy, Giuseppe Lillo, Adolphe Adam, and Louis Niedermeyer.  Autograph letter signed, 3 pages of a folded 4 page document, written in French and sold untranslated. Size of each page is 5.25 x 8.25 inches, small creases, folds, and several bullet holes, otherwise in very good condition.  

Italian baritone (1899-1973). Typed "LS" (signed and sealed) contract with La Scala, Milan, dated in 1934, 2 sided document, with Basini's handwritten signature and official stamp of La Scala Theatre director on verso. Size is 8.5 x 12 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian tenor (1874-1949). Signed postcard, with the image of Marie Jeanne Martinez Villegas at the "Calle Alsima" in Buenos Aires in 1648. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian voice coach (1812-1870), who wrote important books on singing, was also (earlier in his career) a violinist and conductor. Very rare autograph letter signed by him, dated in New York in 1868, in English, arranging an appointment. One page, 8 x 9.75 inches, minor folds, in excellent condition. 

French bass (1822-1872), who performed in many world premieres including the 1854 premiere of Meyerbeer's L'Etoile du Nord. Autograph note signed, 1 page, written in French, sold untranslated. Size is 5.25 x 8 inches, vintage historic item in excellent condition. 

Italian baritone (1856-1928). Autograph letter signed, to music editor Giulio Ricordi, in Italian, sold untranslated and dated in 1890, Madrid. Size is 5.25 x 8 inches, 4 pages in excellent condition.

French soprano (1838-1919), particularly noteworthy for creating the role of Inès in the world premiere production of Meyerbeer's L'Arfricaine in  Paris in 1865. Autograph letter signed, written in French on the first three pages of a folded 4-page document, sold untranslated. Each page is 4.25 x 6.75 inches, in excellent condition. L'A

German soprano/mezzo-soprano (1849-1926). Autograph note signed, written at Covent Garden in London, dated in 1909. 1 page of 4.5 x 7 inches mounted onto 8 x 11 inch drafting paper, written in English. Tear on the bottom left of the mounted background paper, well outside of the area of the manuscript, otherwise in excellent condition. 

German bass (1880-1941). Autograph letter signed, 1 sheet, handwritten on both sides and signed on verso, dated in 1935. In German, sold untranslated, size is 8.25 x 11.5 inches, in excellent condition.

Famous Italian baritone (1913-1993), autograph note signed with attached half-tone photo, shown possibly in role (photo is taped onto an album page with signature on the middle of the page to the left of the photo).  Size is 3.5 x 65.25 inches, small tear on the top left corner and small mounting trace on verso, otherwise in good condition.

Hungarian-born baritone (1827-1904), among other things he was the first Hans Sachs in Vienna, created the role of King Solomon in the 1875 world premiere of Die Königing von Saba, opera by Karl Goldmark. Autograph letter signed and dated by him in Vienna in 1868, 1 page, 5.5 x 8.5 inches, in German (sold untranslated), in excellent condition.

Austrian baritone of Hungarian descent (1848-1903). Signed card, with inscription and signature on the front side of a postcard. Written in German, sold untranslated. Size is 3,.5 x 5.5 inches, with several folds on the card but otherwise in very good condition.

French baritone and teacher (1879-1979). Autograph letter signed, dated in 1933. 2 pages, written in French, sold untranslated. Size is 5.25 x 8 inches, in excellent condition.

German baritone (1828-1905), who sang in many theaters in German and was the father of Theodor Bertram who was also a baritone and developed an international career. Autograph text quote in German, signed by him in 1866 when Bertram was singing in Wiesbaden (where he stayed from 1862 through 1866), Germany. Sold untranslated. Size is 10.25 x 6.75 inches, with a fold, otherwise in excellent condition.

French-Italian soprano, whose stage name was Antonia Delores, was the daughter of singer Zelia Trebelli-Bettini a French mezzo-soprano (1834-1892), and Alessandro Bettini, an Italian tenor (1825-1898), and the first to sing Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera in 1884. Autograph letter signed, 3 pages, dated in 1886, written in English. Size is 4.5 x 7 inches, small marks on sides of photo, otherwise in excellent condition. Also included: unsigned half-tone photo shown in role. 

German bass-baritone (1835-1900), created the role of Hans Sachs in the world premiere performance of Richard Wagner's Die Meistersinger in Munich in 1868. Autograph note signed, dated in Wiesbaden in 1877. Written to Paul Lindau, noted German writer, journalist and theatre director (1839-1919). Written in German, sold untranslated. The manuscript size is 5.75 x 3.75 inches, in extremely good condition.  Also included is an unsigned CDV, shown as himself. Seal on verso of photographer Fritz Luckhardt, Vienna. Size is 2.5 x 4 inches, in excellent condition. 

French tenor (1871-1922). Autograph letter signed, dated in 1898. 1 page, size is 4.5 x 7 inches, in excellent condition. Written in French, sold untranslated. ALSO INCLUDED: 1 black and white photo postcard, shown in the title role of Massenet's Werther, with printed inscription and signature. Photo by P. Berger. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition. Not sold separately.

Italian mezzo-soprano (1846-1905), starred as Laura Adorno in the world premiere performances of Ponchielli's La Gioconda at La Scala, Milan in 1876. Autograph letter signed, 1 page, written in Italian sold untranslated. Size is 5 x 8 inches, small tear on top right and slight smudge underneath, not affecting the text and signature below, otherwise in excellent condition.

English soprano (1810-1884), sang in many countries on every continent and was the most widely traveled singer of the 19th century.  Autograph letter signed, dated in 1859. 2 pages of 4 page folded document, size is 4.5 x 7 inches, in excellent condition.

English soprano (1810-1884), sang in many countries on every continent and was the most widely traveled singer of the 19th century.  Autograph note signed, 1 page in English, size is 4 x 7.25 inches, small tear on the bottom right (not affecting text and signature), otherwise in excellent condition.