Other Miscellaneous Items (over $500)

Wonderful album from France, 1880s, with pages containing 44 original albumen prints of nude female models, all mounted on the pages.  Each page is 8.3 x 10 inches, rust stains on pages, mostly not on photos, blue hardcovers, all tied up with a black cloth thread, in overall very good condition. See photos.

A beautiful limited edition porcelain figurine of Enrico Caruso, shown as Canio in Pagliacci. Porcelain figurine was created by Hutschenreuther Porcelain Factory in Germany. Only 5000 high quality figurines were made. The piece is complete with the drumstick and a separate round wood base. This highly collectible item was designed for the Metropolitan Opera Guild in 1983 to celebrate its 100th anniversary. The clown’s face and hands have a matte finish. The predominately white sculpture features colorful hand-painted details. The figurine is in its original packaging, includes certificate of authenticity by the Metropolitan Opera Guild in New York city. We offer 3 alternatives/choices (click on thumbnails): - Original Porcelain Figurine and original drumstick, with original box and documentation. - The original porcelain figurine + a high quality copy of the drumstick - The drumstick alone (high quality copy, not the original, very difficult to distinguish from the original!)

Original French medieval document in Vellum written on the hair side and with ink commonly used continental Europe, in Bastard Gothic font (a typical 15th century style in French territory). Size is 16.5 x 8.75 inches (open size). Hand-written note in pencil on the reverse, probably from the early 20th century indicates the names Payen and Cleret.This document is a notarial act describing the organization and boundaries between Saint-Maixent and Chauray, drawn up in September 1470 at the request of Jean Cléré (or Claret), Lord of Puymans (neighboring Saint-Maixent), for Pierre Payen, Lord of Chauray.

Original French medieval document in paper, continental cursive script, mid-17th century, V-shaped diplomatic document (typical of the period) with extension for wax seal (now lost), and written by a single hand. The joint between the two parts is broken. Size is 13 x 5.25 inches (section A) and 11.5 x 2.9 inches.This document, drawn up in June 1644, contains an agreement between two lords of the region of Artois (northern France), Jean du Mont-Saint-Eloy and the Lord of Liévin, in which consensus is established regarding their hierarchies, territories, and self-defense strategies.

Original French medieval document in vellum written on the hair side and with ink commonly used in continental Europe in Bastard Gothic font (a typical 15th-century style in French territory). Open size is 11.3 x 9 inches, sold as it is.Original notarial record signed by Jehan Boengut, manorial official of Parthenay, certifying a land transfer between two settlers in September 1438.

Set of beautiful hand-colored lithographs from Gallerie Dramatique, a French publication that existed between 1796 and 1880. A total of 25 lithographs, from the 1840s, each one is 7 x 10.5 inches, depicting an actor or actress. Some have minor age toning, but in overall excellent good condition. Not sold individually.

Italian superstar tenor (1890-1957), considered one of the greatest voices of the 20th century. Wig used by him for performances of Un Ballo in Maschera (Verdi) at the Opera di Roma, includes a large photo of him wearing this wig as Riccardo, the wig, and a business card printed "Beniamino Gigli" with an inscription on verso by his son Enzo to a collector, dated by Enzo in December 28th, 1957, 4 weeks after his father´s death.  Stored in a box that is 10.25 x 15.75 inches x 1 inch high, photo is 7 x 10.25 inches and is mounted on the inside of the cardboard box. Box originally belonged to something else, all is in very good condition.

The Gramophone magazine is a UK-based monthly magazine dedicated to classical music, particularly to reviews of recordings, but with a large amount of content related to artists and composers. The first issue was in 1923, this publication is now 100 years old and has become a world authority in classical music. Treasured by a collector for over half a century, these bound volumesare full of interesting articles about classical music and opera recordings and performers, and a treasure trove of interesting information, photos, reviews, and more.All 53 volumes are bound, each one is approximately 8.5 x 11 inches, and thickness varies a lot depending on the volume. All magazines are in very good to excellent condition. Sold as a full only, and at a bargain price, will not be split into parts. These volumes are sometimes sold one at a time, at around $45 each, except the first ones - which are very hard to find - sold for quite more.FOR PICK UP IN NEW YORK ONLY, will not be shipped due to size, weight, and cost - This collection is stored in 5 rather heavy boxes, each one is 14 x 14 x 14 inches in size. Shipping cost will be refunded upon pickup. Sold at a bargain price.  

Interesting lot of pictures of Les Hassan, a family of French acrobats and dancers. Lot with a total of 38 items (18 cabinet photos, 3 CDVs or Carte-de-Visite, 15 small photographs and 2 photo postcards), depicting different members of the family both in circus positions taken in studio and live in performance. Cabinet photos are from circa 1880 with brother and sister Ernest and Elisa Hassan, while the rest of the material is from a later period and depicts other family members. A page with some handwritten information accompanying this lot is provided (see scan). Cabinet photos by important photographers in Paris, each one is 4.25 x 6.5 inches, CDVs are 2.5 x 4 inches, photos are 2.5 x 3.75 inches (sizes vary), and postcards are 3.5 x 5.5 inches. All in very good to excellent condition, not trimmed on borders. See scans.

French opera composer (1842-1912), one of the greatest creators of operas from his time. Fantastic, a really unique piece of memorabilia consisting of a fragment of the wallpaper from the Opera Comique building, after a fire in 1887 destroyed it. Massenet collected and a piece of the wallpaper, attached it to a piece of paper, and preserved it. It was part of his estate when he passed away in 1912, a large part of it was kept in his family until it went to auction many years and several generations later, in the 1980s. A New York dealer purchased it, and kept it in his estate and collection until 2015 when we purchased it. Now it can be yours! Total size is 4.1 x 3.2 inches, is annotated in ink at the top by Massenet himself, who wrote what it is and that this comes from the Opera Comique in Paris, which was victim of a fire in May 1887. Cut corners, overall age-toning, glue residues on the back, but in very good condition. 

Star Italian conductor (1867-1957), considered one of the greatest of all times. Baton that belonged to the great director, given to the librarian of the NBC Orchestra, James Dolan. James B. Dolan (1915-2006), was the librarian for the Boston Pop Orchestra under Arthur Friedler, became the NBC Orchestra under Toscanini in 1942. Dolan befriended Toscanini and took care of the scores as well as the maestro´s batons, touring with the NBC Orchestra in the 1950s. Read more about this ---> HERE Also included is an autograph letter by Toscanini´s son Walter, sent to Dolan a month after Toscanini´s death in January 1957, with the envelope. Both items, baton and autograph letter, come from the estate of James Dolan, and are provided with a certificate of authenticity from us. Baton is 11.25 inches long, has a cracked tip (it was normal for Toscanini to break batons during rehearsals), while the autograph letter is 5.6 x 8.75 inches, in excellent condition.

Famous Italian fashion designer (1946-1997). Fine black-and-white photograph signed by him. Size is 6.9 x 9.3 inches, in excellent condition.