Singers - Autograph Manuscripts

French soprano (1852-?),  born as Caroline de Septavaux, starred in the title role of Ambroise Thomas's Francoise da Rimini in the world premiere performances at the Paris Opera in 1882. Autograph letter signed, written in Monte Carlo. 1 page, written in French, sold untranslated. Size is 4.5 x 7 inches, in excellent condition.  

American soprano (1873-1950), autograph letter signed, 2 pages written in English, written in Milan. Bold and clear handwriting and signature (signed as "M. Saltzman-Stevens".) Each page is 5.75 x 6.5 inches, slight tear at bottom of each page, otherwise in excellent condition.

Italian bass-baritone (1805-1875). Autograph letter signed, 2 pages of a folded 4-page document, dated in Genova in 1835, written in Italian, sold untranslated. Size of each page is 7.5 x 9.75 inches, slight tear on front pages, and more significant on back pages without text, otherwise in good condition.

Italian tenor (1810-1879) and Italian clarinetist (1807-1874), double signed album page, with brief musical quote, dated in London in 1844. Salvi had a major international career during the nineteenth century, particularly associated with the operas of Donizetti and Verdi, appearing in the world premiere productions of the former's Il Diluvio Universale, Betley, Gainni di Parigi, and Adelia, and the latter's Oberto and Un Giorno di Regno. Cavallini was also greatly celebrated in his time, greatly admired by Rossini and Verdi for his work with the La Scala orchestra and he later became a celebrated clarinet soloist and composer. Size is 5.25 x 8.25 inches, bold signatures, beautiful vintage item in excellent condition! 

Italian baritone (1868-1930), appeared in world premiere performances of Giordano's Andrea Chenier in 1896 and Leoncavallo's Zaza in 1900. A postcard signed by him, written in Buenos Aires, dated in 1903. Bold and clear handwriting and signature. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian soprano (1824-?). Autograph letter signed, dated in 1859, 1 page of text on the first page of a 4 page folded document, written in Italian, sold untranslated. Size of each page is 5.25 x 8 inches, small tear on the right of the back pages without text, otherwise in excellent condition.

Famous American soprano (1864-1903), admired by Massenet and Saint-Saens. Among other roles, she was the first Thais in the world premiere at the Palais Garnier in Paris in 1894. Autograph note signed on both sides of a 2-sided 3.25 x 5 inch card with her initials as letterhead on top left, in excellent condition. Written in French, sold untranslated. Also included: unsigned cabinet photograph, shown as herself, photo by Charles Reutlinger, Paris. Size is 4.25 x 6.5 inches, small cracks on top right and left and mounting traces on verso, otherwise in very good condition.  Not sold seperately. 

Famous American soprano (1864-1903), admired by Massenet and Saint-Saens. Among other roles, she was the first Thais in the world premiere at the Palais Garnier in Paris in 1894. Signed card, dated in 1895. Size is 2.25 x 3.5 inches, in excellent condition. Also included: unsigned mini-cabinet photograph, shown most likely in role, size is 2.25 x 3.75 inches, in excellent condition.  Not sold seperately. 

Italian bass (1798-?), appeared in the world premiere performances of Donizetti's Marina Faliero. Autograph letter signed (signed as "V. Santini"), first 2 pages of a 4-page document, dated in 1832, written in Italian, sold untranslated. Size of each page is 5 x 8 inches, tear on the back 2 pages without text, otherwise in excellent condition with bold and clear handwriting.

English baritone and composer (1834-1922), composed music under the pseudonym "Ralph Betterton". Autograph letter signed, 2 pages, size is 4.5 x 7 inches, in excellent condition.

English baritone and composer (1834-1922), composed music under the pseudonym "Ralph Betterton". 1 Autograph letter signed, 1 page, dated in 1892, size is 4.5 x 7 inches, in excellent condition.  Also included: Autographed musical quote written on a 3.5 x 8.25 album page, signed by him in New York, dated in 1891, in excellent condition. Not sold separately. 

English baritone and composer (1834-1922), composed music under the pseudonym "Ralph Betterton". Autograph letter signed, 1 page, written in London in 1912, size is 4.5 x 7 inches, in excellent condition.

English baritone and composer (1834-1922), composed music under the pseudonym Ralph Betterton. 2-bar autograph music quote from Haendel's opera "Acis and Galatea" with the lyrics "Oh ruddier than the cherry" signed by him and dated on Oct 24, 1903.  Size is 8.5 x 10.6 inches, in overall excellent condition. On the verso, there is a curious autograph inscribed by a certain Frank Lincoln, dated in Cape Town on June 1, 1891; plus another signature belonging to Frank Wheeler, dated 1891.

English baritone and composer (1834-1922), composed music under the pseudonym "Ralph Betterton". Autographed musical quote written on a 4 x 4 inch album page mounted on soft cardboard (total item size is 5 x 6.75 inches), signed by him in Dublin, dated in 1896, in excellent condition. 

English baritone and composer (1834-1922), composed music under the pseudonym "Ralph Betterton". Autograph note signed, 1 page, size is 4.5 x 7 inches, small creases on top left and right, otherwise in excellent condition.

English baritone and composer (1834-1922), composed music under the pseudonym "Ralph Betterton". Signed card, dated in 1895, size is 3.5 x 4.5 inches, in excellent condition.

Belgian soprano (1834-1907) (whose name is also spelled as "Marie Sass"), who performed in the French premiere of Tannhauser (1861), L’ Africaine (1865) and Don Carlo (1867).  Autograph letter signed, embossed, composed in Neuilly, France, 2 pages, written in French, sold untranslated. Bold handwriting and signature. Size is 3.75 x 6 inches, in excellent condition. Also included: unsigned vintage print, shown in role, in a portrait. Size is 7 x 9 inches, slight rust but in otherwise good condition. Not sold separately. 

Belgian born American mezzo (1865-1957), known as "the grand lady of the chorus at the Metropolitan Opera House", sang in opera in both Europe and the United States for over sixty-three years. Autograph letter signed, dated in 1947, 1 page, written in French, sold untranslated. Size is 6 x 8.25 inches, in excellent condition. 

Italian soprano (1894-1948), autograph letter signed, written in 1940. 1 page of a 2-sided sheet, written in Italian, sold untranslated. Size is 6 x 10 inches, in excellent condition. 

Italian mezzo-soprano (1850-1922), very celebrated in her time, with a voice containing a range of 2 and a half octaves. Autograph letter signed 1 page written in Italian on letterhead of the Hotel Espanol in New York, dated in 1884. Sold untranslated but with typed transcription on a separate page (see scan). Size of the original letter is 8 x 10 inches, in excellent condition.

Italian mezzo-soprano (1850-1922). Unsigned cabinet photo, shown as herself. A photo by C. F. Colny, Boston, size is 4.25 x 6.5 inches, in excellent condition and is mounted onto an 8.5 x 11.5 inch piece of cardboard with an autographed musical quote, dated in 1886. Bold handwriting and signature. Cardboard has some stains and mounting traces on verso but musical quote is untouched as is the cardboard phtoo. 

Austrian bass (1838-1886), signed album page, signed in Graz, dated in 1876. Signature is on album page of 4.75 x 7.75 inches mounted onto larger album page of 6.25 x 8.75 pages, in excellent condition.

Austrian-American soprano (1879-1954), autograph letter signed, 2 pages, written on both sides of a 2 -sided 4.5 x 6.5 inch embossed card, written in English, dated in 1923. Several small bullet holes on the top, otherwise in excellent condition. 

Austrian-American soprano (1879-1954), autograph letter signed, 3 pages, written on a folded 4-page document, written in English, dated in New York in 1936. Size of each page is 5 x 7.75 inches, some rust stains on empty back page, otherwise in excellent condition. 

German baritone (1859-1923), who sang at the most important theaters and Festivals in Europe, including Bayreuth. Scheidemantel created the role of von Faninal in the world premiere of Der Rosenkavalier in 1911. Autograph letter signed by him, in 1 sheet of paper with his initials in the letter head (KS), in German, dated in 1897. Sold untranslated, size is 4.5 x 7 inches, in excellent condition.

Danish tenor and later baritone (1906-1975) who was considered one of Europe's leading lieder singers of the post-World War II period. Autograph note signed, 1 page written in English, dated in 1964. Size is 6.75 x 8.5 inches, several small folds, in very good condition. 

Italian star tenor (1888-1965), signature cut, inscribed and written in Rome. Size is 3.25 x 9.75 inches, in excellent condition. 

Italian star tenor (1888-1965), signed album page (front page of a book), dated in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1927. Size is 6.5 x 9 inches, some rust on edges of page not affecting clear and bold handwriting and signature.

Austrian soprano (1859-1910), autograph letter signed, discussing her repertoire. 3 folded pages, written in German, sold untranslated. Attractively embossed on front page. Size of each page is 4 x 6 inches, unfolded the total size is 6 x 8 inches, in excellent condition

German baritone (1888-1952). Regular postcard signed by him with a short sentiment and dated in Zurich, February 23, 1957. Size is 5.7 x 4.1 inches, in excellent condition.

German baritone (1897-1977) known for Mozart, Wagner and Strauss roles, sang frequently at the Vienna State Opera. Autograph letter signed, 2 pages, written in German, sold untranslated. Size is 7.5 x 11.25 inches, small tear at the top and several creases and folds, otherwise in good condition. 

German soprano (1935-1996), typed letter signed, written in Munich, dated in 1966. Written in German, sold untranslated. One large sheet typed on her own letterhead, size is 8 x 11.5 inches, 2 small bullet holes on left, otherwise in very good condition.

German tenor (1855-1924), started his career as an operetta singer, later on focused on opera and sang in the world premiere of 3 operas by Karl Goldmark, one by D´Albert and in Die Drei Pintos by Weber-Mahler. Autograph note signed, with a text quote, dated in Vienna in 1910. Size is 10.25 x 7 inches, in excellent condition.

German soprano (1848-1917). Autograph letter signed, written in Frankfurt, dated in 1883. 2 pages, written in German, sold untranslated. Size is 4.25 x 7 inches, in excellent condition.

German-born American soprano (1888-1952), known for her many recordings and close association with composer Richard Strauss. Signed album page, dated in 1936 which also contains a half-tone photo of her, shown as herself. Size is 5 x 6.5 inches, in excellent condition. 

Star German contralto (1861-1936), who had a very successful international career and was remarkable in her interpretations of Wagnerian roles, performing several times at Bayreuth Festival, and many other important opera theaters.  Autograph letter signed, 1 page of text on a set of 4 pages taken from the front section of a published biography of her, the letter is in English and dated in 1933. Bold handwriting and signature. Size of each page is 5.5 x 8.5 inches, slight rust on the left edge, otherwise in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED: 1 signed program from a 1923 concert featuring her and other artists at Boston's Symphony Hall, mostly the complete program but missing the front cover. Size of each page is 5.5 x 8.5 inches, in excellent condition. Not sold separately. 

Star German contralto (1861-1936), signature cut, dated in 1912. Bold handwriting and signature. Size is 1 x 4.5 inches, in excellent condition. Also included: unsigned postcard photograph, shown as herself, photo by Burr McIntosh, New York, size is 3.25 x 5 inches, in very good condition.   

Star German contralto (1861-1936), signed album page, dated in New York in 1906. Bold handwriting and signature. Size is 4.5 x 7.5 inches, in excellent condition. Also included: unsigned postcard photograph, shown as herself, photo by Paul Bohm, Munich, size is 3.25 x 5.25 inches, some silvering, otherwise in very good condition. 

Star German contralto (1861-1936), signed card, dated in 1936. Bold handwriting and signature. Size is 3.25 x 5.75 inches, in excellent condition. Also included: unsigned postcard photograph, shown as herself in front of her home near La Mesa, California. Size is 3.5 x 5.25 inches, in very good condition. 

Star German contralto (1861-1936), who had a very successful international career in Wagner roles. Album page signed by her with a short quote "In Art, life; in Life, truth" dated in Chicago, 1924. Additional signatures on front and verso.  Size is 5.6 x 4.2 inches, staple holes holes over the left border, in excellent condition.

Austrian soprano and mezzo-soprano (1803-1852). Set of autograph letters signed, one is handwritten by her and dated in 1841, the other dated in 1837 is in another person's handwriting but signed by her. The 1841 letter is on the first 2 pages of a 4 page document, 5.5 x 8.25 inches, slight tear on last 2 pages without text but otherwise in excellent condition. The 1837 letter is 1 page 5.5 x 7.75 inches with small stains on left side and tear on back pages but otherwise in good condition. Both are in Italian and sold untranslated. Not sold separately.

Star Italian baritone (1866-1936), one of the most important singers of the Metropolitan Opera for over 25 years. Autograph note signed, 1 page written in French sold untranslated, dated in 1889. Size is 4.75 x 8 inches (unfolded), in very good condition. Also included: unsigned postcard photograph, shown as himself, photo by Mishkin, New York. Size is 3.5 x 5.25 inches, in very good condition. Not sold separately. 

Star Italian baritone (1866-1936), one of the most important singers of the Metropolitan Opera for over 25 years. Autograph note signed, 1 page written in English on the letterhead of the Vanderbilt Hotel, New York. Page size is 5 x 6.25 inches, in very good condition. Also included: unsigned postcard photograph, shown as Iago in Verdi's Otello, a photo by Culver pictures. Size is 4.25 x 5.75 inches, in excellent condition. Not sold separately. 

Star Italian baritone (1866-1936), one of the most important singers of the Metropolitan Opera for over 25 years. Signature cut, dated in New York in 1911. Size is 4 x 6.25 inches, some cuts, but not affecting the handwriting and signature. Also included: photograph of him as Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca, this is actually a "photo OF a photo" (the original photo had a signature and inscription but this is simply a reproduction of that photo and not an item containing an original signature). Size is 4.75 x 8 inches, in excellent condition. Not sold separately. 

Star Italian baritone (1866-1936), one of the most important singers of the Metropolitan Opera for over 25 years. Album page signed and inscribed by him, dated in London, 1906. Size is 5 x 6.5 inches, central fold, in excellent condition.

Star Italian baritone (1866-1936), one of the most important singers of the Metropolitan Opera for over 25 years. Album page signed by him, dated in Philadelphia, 1902. Size is 5 x 2.9 inches, in very good condition

Star Italian baritone (1866-1936), one of the most important singers of the Metropolitan Opera for over 25 years. Page signed by the baritone with a short sentiment in Italian (sold untranslated).  Size is 5 x 6.3 inches, minor cracks, central fold, in very good condition.

Italian soprano (1906-1987), autograph letter signed, 6 pages  of text (3 2-sided pages), written in Italian, sold untranslated. Each page is 4.75 x 8.25 inches,  in excellent condition.