Singers - Autograph Manuscripts

American soprano (1878-1919), autograph note signed, on letterhead of Hotel Cambridge, New York, dated in 1906. Size is 5 x 6.5 inches, in excellent condition.

American soprano (1850-1891), autograph letter signed, dated in 1872, 4 folded pages in English. Size is 5.25 x 8 inches, top page is neatly taped together at top, otherwise in excellent condition.

French tenor (1831-1905), who starred in the 1866 world premiere of Ambroise Thomas's Mignon. Autograph letter signed, written in Paris, dated in 1865. Written in French, sold untranslated. Letter consists of four folded pages, text is on the first three. Size when fully opened up is 10.25 x 8.25 inches, 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.

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. 

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), autograph letter signed, to the Marchisio sisters, undated. One page in French, sold untranslated. Size is 5.25 x 8.25 inches. Also included an envelope addressed to the Marchisio sisters. Stamped in Paris in 1861.

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.

French mezzo-soprano (1835-1907), autograph letter signed, in French, dated in Berlin in 1860. Size is 5.25 x 8.25 inches. Written in 3 pages in fair condition.

Collection of 18 autograph album pages, with signatures of mostly German and Austrian singers but some of other nationalities as well, all at their peak in the first half of the 20th century. Names include: star Italian baritone Mattia Battistini (1856-1928), bass Carl Braun (1886-1960), baritone Heinrich Schlusnus (1888-1952), bass-baritone Fritz Krenn (1887-1963), bass Otto Helgers (1882-1945), baritone Karl Armster (1883-1943), baritone Theodor Scheidl (1880-1959), tenor Joseph Mann (1883-1921), tenor Waldemar Henke (1876-1945), tenor Ernst Kraus (1863-1941), baritone Karl Scheidemantel (1859-1923), portuguese baritone Francisco d´Andrade (1859-1921) - 2 pieces handwritten by him, 1 is signed - tenor Ludwig Wüllner (1858-1938), dutch baritone Johannes Messchaert (1857-1922) - 2 pieces signed by him, tenor Robert Philipp (1852-1933), bass-baritone Alfred Jerger (1889-1976). See all scans.

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

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. 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. 

English soprano (1810-1884), sang in many countries on every continent, and was the most widely travelled 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.

American baritone (1857-1921), autograph letter signed, on stationary of the Art Club of Philadelphia. 2 pages on 4 page folded document. Very clear handwriting and signature. Size is 4.5 x 6.75 inches, in excellent condition.

American baritone (1857-1921), signed card, dated in 1907. Very clear handwriting and signature. Size is 4.1 x 2.5 inches, in excellent condition. 

German baritone (1788-1856) and actor, was an important singer who created several roles in operas by Spontini and Meyerbeer, but most importantly created the role of Caspar in the world premiere of Der Freischütz by Weber. Autograph letter signed, one page, undated and handwritten only on one side, 8 x 10.5 inches. In German, sold untranslated, some rust toning over the borders, otherwise in excellent condition.

Italian soprano (1828-1922), autograph letter signed, posted in Bologna in 1853, in Italian, sold untranslated. Size is 5.25 x 8.5 inches, one page, in very good condition.

Spanish soprano (1887-1960), autograph note signed, written in Milan, dated in 1912. Written in Italian, sold untranslated. Size is 4.5 x 7 inches, in excellent condition. 

Italian bass (1831-1892), who specialized in basso buffo roles in bel canto operas, sang in many important theaters in Europe and South America. Autograph letter signed, dated by him in 1887, asking somebody (probably a theater manager) to include Il Barbiere di Siviglia in the repertoire for the current season. One single sheet handwritten on both sides (folded into 4 pages of which 3 are handwritten by him, the 3rd is signed). Size of the entire sheet is 7 x 9 inches, in Italian, sold with a translation (see scans).

French singer (1901-1983) and diseuse (teller/narrator), signed page with a letterhead from a hotel, with a short sentiment in French. Size is 6 x 8.25 inches, in very good condition.