Other Miscellaneous Items

Amazing piece of original artwork, great to decorate the wall of a Mahler fan!. This is a larger size, abstract art image of the composer, an intaglio on paper by American printmaker artist Philip von Raabe. Artwork is signed in pencil by artist (lower right corner, see photograph), and is entitled by the artist "Abschied" ("Farewell", in German). Size is 37.25 x 24 inches, jagged edges simulating hand-separated paper, very minor mounting damage on beck, perfect on front, excellent condition.

Set of 3 programs for the Maine Music Festival held in Bangor and Portland (Maine) in October 1901, 1918, and 1926, featuring artists such as Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Louis Graveure, Giuseppe Campanari, Hipolito Lazaro, Marion Telva, Beniamino Gigli, Benno Rabinoff, Ethel Leginska, among others. Each one's size is 9.5 x 11.7 inches, with repaired spines, some rust, but in overall very good condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

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. 

Set of 4 different ticket stubs for the Gala performance to celebrate the Centennial of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, on October 22, 1983.  Each one's size is 1.5 x 2.5 inches, in excellent condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Set of 2 admission tickets for the opera gala on the occasion of the Centennial of The Metropolitan Opera House, New York, on October 22, 1983. Size is 1.5 x 4.1 inches each, in excellent condition.

Small Press pass card for the farewell gala at the Old Metropolitan Opera on April 16, 1966. Size is 3.9 x 2.4 inches, minor creases, in very good condition.

Harper's Weekly issue of October 27th, 1883, including a 2-pages article about the inauguration of the Metropolitan Opera at its new building that took place 5 days earlier.  Full weekly with 20 pages including covers, size is 11.5 x 16.75 inches, minor dames on edges, in overall very good condition.

Magazine "Scientific American" with an article about the new stage of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York; rebuilt for a production of Wagner's "Parsifal", issued on February 6th, 1904.  Size is 11.25 x 16.2, full magazine with all 16 pages including covers, dust on covers, otherwise in very good condition.

Quite a unique souvenir of the old Metropolitan Opera building in New York, which was inaugurated in 1883 and demolished in 1967 after the opera company moved out in 1966. Piece of the curtain used between 1905 and 1940. Size is 7.75 x 11 inches, minor tears, in very good condition. ALSO INCLUDED is a sheet explaining the story of the curtain.

Metropolitan Opera House paper-made pass-out check for the season 1899-1900 framed with metal. Size is 3 x 2 inches, mounting traces on verso, in very good condition.

Beautiful set of two commemorative key chains; one of them celebrating the Met Centennial (1883-1983) and the other celebrating the 100th season 1983, whose designs are a replica of the tickets for the opening night in 1883 and 1983. In very good condition.

Set of 2 original glass negatives for photographs of the Metropolitan Opera in New York. One is from the period 1905-1910 during the construction of scenery at the stage, the second is a shot taken outside with people waiting, taking during the 1910s. Each one is on glass, 7 x 5 inches, with very minor damage on borders, in excellent condition. Fragile. 

Set of 7 press release kits for performances at the Met Opera in New York, live broadcasts sponsored by Texaco. Each one includes photographs and printed notes with what is going to be broadcasted, comments, etc. A very interesting and rare testimony of these popular broadcasts.  The kits include Elektra (Jan 28th, 1981, notes and 4 unsigned photos of singers), L`Elisir D`Amore (March 2nd, 1981, notes and 4 unsigned photos), Un Ballo in Maschera (Feb 16th, 1980, notes and 3 unsigned photos), Rigoletto (Dec 16th, 1981, notes and 2 unsigned photos), Lulu (Dec 20th, 1980, notes and 3 unsigned photos), Manon Lescaut (Sep 27th, 1980, notes and 1 unsigned photo) and Il Trittico (Nov 14th, 1981, notes and 3 unsigned photos).  Each one is 9 x 12 inches, in an individual folder, very good condition.

Brass replica of a ticket stub for the gala performance on October 22nd, 1983, celebrating the centennial of the Metropolitan Opera in New York.  This was sold by the Met as a souvenir, and is today a desirable collectible. This is a keychain that can be used as such. Size is 1.4 x 2.75 inches, needs some cleaning and polishing, minor scratches, in very good condition. See scan of the front, verso is blank.

Metropolitan Opera medallion, issued for the centennial of the opera house in 1983. Ten thousand Met Medals were made in bronze, each one is numbered. Medal is 76 mm in diameter, weighs 7.2 ounces. In original box, some wear on the box, the medallion is in excellent/like new condition.

Beautiful, official plate issued by the Metropolitan Opera in New York, celebrating the Centennial of the opera company in 1983.  Plate is 10.25 inches in diameter, fine porcelain by Lennox, accented with 24 karat gold, depicting a scene from Puccini´s opera "Madama Butterfly". Comes with original box and documentation, including a letter from Lennox Collections, a limited edition of 9,500 were issued. Original box showing some wear on top, rest is in excellent condition.

Signed photo of a quartet of 4 male singers - baritone Vernon Sanders, tenor Attilio Baggiore, bass Bruce MacKay, and tenor Giulio Gari, - who toured the United States performing both classical pieces and Broadway hits. Contains signatures of each performer with inscribed sentiment at the top, dated in New York in 1947. Photo by James Abresch, New York.  Size is 7.25 x 9.25 inches, some wear on edges and rust on verso, but otherwise in very good condition. 

Beautiful vintage collection from the XIX century of about 257 songs and arias. Size is 10.5 x 13.75 inches each approximately, most of them with its original cover missing (but with the front title page). Each song/aria is 2 to 6 pages long, in good condition or better. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Set of two magazines specially issued by Opera News Magazine on June and July 1976 in the occasion of the United States of America bicentennial of Independence, with many articles commemorating the opera in America.  Part I has 54 pages, part II has 46 pages, both issues are 8.25 x 11 inches in size, minor crack on the cover of Part I, otherwise in excellent condition. SOLD TOGETHER, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Original, vintage advertisements from magazines depicting opera singers. Different sizes.  SOLD INDIVIDUALLY - click on the thumbnails to see larger scans on the left, and descriptions below.

Interesting, unique stamp collection of opera-related stamps from various European countries, all mint or attached to envelopes, some of the FDCs (first day covers).  Included are 11 full stamp sheets issued for the Teatro La Scala, Milan bicentennial in 1978, one sheet from Austria celebrating the Vienna State Opera centennial in 1969, 18 envelopes with stamps (some FDCs) from various European countries and one from Japan, 4 postcards with stamps and first day ink stamp, and some lose stamps. A nice, rare type of collection, in excellent condition. Sold together as a lot, not sold separately.

Hand-made ceramic figurines of opera stars, various sizes.  SOLD INDIVIDUALLY Click on thumbnail to select and see photos.

Group of photos of 6 major opera houses and concert venues including the Hollywood Bowl, Vienna State Opera, Sydney Opera House and early artist renderings of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Photo sizes range from 4.75 x 6.25 inches to 7 x 9 inches, most are 7 x 9. Several of the photos are stamped on verso, all are in very good condition. Sold only as lot.

Russian operatic and symphonic conductor (1873-1948), unsigned mini-cabinet photo, shown as himself. Size is 2.5 x 4.2 inches, in excellent condition.

Set of 9 large prints, original photos by American photographer Seth Eastman Moebs, taking in Paris in the 1980s. Each print is 9.5 x 14 inches, has a stamp with the photographer´s name on verso, in excellent condition.

Lot of 10 Paris-Theatre magazines from 1874, each one is 8 pages, with a woodbury-type original photo attached to the front page, depicting a French actor (a few with opera singers). Names include: French actors Gilles de Saint-Germain (1833-1899), Madame Pasca (or Alice Pasquier, 1833-1914), Henri-Polydore Maubant (1821-1902), Adolphe Dupuis (1824-1891), Virginie Dejazet (1798-1875), Berthe Ferrucci (1831-1909), Denis-Stanislas Talbot (1824-1904), Dieudonné, tenor Jules Bosquin (1843-1909) and mezzo-soprano Paola Marié (1847-1919, sister of Celestine Galli-Marié, the first Carmen). Each magazine is complete with all pages and covers, 11.25 x 15.4 inches, in overall good to very good condition. See scans of covers. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Large size menu for a dinner by the Lotos Club in honor of Austrian conductor Emil Paur (1855-1932). Signed by Paur, as well as by many other attendees, including violinist Fritz Kreisler, baritone David Bisham, pianist and composer Paolo Gallico, organist Clarence Eddy. Size is 11.25 x 14 inches, 4 pages including covers, several cracks on front cover repaired with tape. Page with signatures is in better condition, with minor cracks and sign of wear, will frame beautifully.

American author (1791-1852), poet and actor, best remembered for his song "Home! Sweet home!" (1822). Size is 8.6 x 7.2 inches, 4-page facsimile manuscript of his song "Home! Sweet Home!", in excellent condition.  

Full magazine, issue from January 24th, 1886, announcing the recent decease of composer Amilcare Ponchielli (1834-1886), which took place just 8 days earlier. Twenty pages in total including covers, with the cover (see scan) and the first 7 pages entirely dedicated to Ponchielli, his life and operas, some good illustrations, size is 10.5 x 14.6 inches, in excellent condition.

French-American coloratura soprano (1898-1976), a Metropolitan star for nearly 30 years.   Lot of 5 Ads from different announcers including Columbia Records (3), General Electric (1) and Tomato Juice (1).  Most of them are sized 10.3 x 14 inches, in excellent condition. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY. 

French-American coloratura soprano (1898-1976), a Metropolitan star for nearly 30 years.  Original typed essay, from her estate, with 14 pages about her and her career, entitled "Singing Through Life", for a publisher named Barnett B. Lester. Essay is a typed original, not a carbon copy, and has an autograph note signed by her on the first page, saying "My Dear Mr. Lester, the interview granted by me to you is exclusive, I know you will do an excellent article, Lily Pons". A total of 14 typed pages, each one is 7.5 x 11 inches, plus the note on page 1, inside light green covers, in excellent condition.

Nice collection of album pages signed by a variety of personalities and artists from Portugal from the 1920s including the journalist and sculptor Agostino do Campos (1870-1944), philosopher and sociologist Antonio Sergio (1883-1969), actress Vera Vergani (1895-1989), actor Rene Alexandre (1885-1946), actress Gabrielle Robinne (1886-1980), engineer Antonio Arroio (1856-1934), poet Vicente Arnoso (1881-1925), sculptor Antonio Teixeira Lopez, plus 3 other unidentified signers. Each page is 9 x 6.9 inches, gilded edges, minor rust stains, in excellent condition. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Italian opera composer (1858-1924), the greatest creator of verismo for over 30 years until his death by cancer. Original fine oil painting by Joseph A. Rossi, size of painting is 15.75 x 19.75 inches, on a slightly larger canvas, with margins and ready to be framed. Sold unframed, in a roll, in excellent condition.

American violinist (1897-1961) and bandleader, famous during the 1920s and 1930s. Lot of unsigned playbills, programs, ads, and letters to him as well as his personal resumé and articles about his career that probably belonged to him in the past, for a total of 16 items. Various sizes, all in good condition or better. SOLD ONLY AS A LOT, NOT SOLD SEPARATELY.

Italian actress (1822-1906), known for tragic dramas,  who was often referred to as the "Marquise". Unsigned CDV, shown in role. Photo by Disderi. Size is 2.5 x 4.1 inches, slight wear on edges, otherwise in very good condition. 

Italian actress (1822-1906), known for tragic dramas,  who was often referred to as the "Marquise". Unsigned CDV, shown in role. Photo by Pierre Petit, Paris. Size is 2.25 x 4 inches, some smudges on verso, otherwise in very good condition. 

Manuscript music book self-ruled with soft covers whose front cover reads "Robert Ventress Book, Upleatam, December 18, 1818" and with a similar legend on the first page dated March 7, 1819, full of musical quotations of mostly psalms tunes. ALSO INCLUDED is a family tree of Robert Ventress (1754-1848) and his wife Anne, including dates and those of their 11 children, a small number of clips from a family member named Thomas Ventress who turned 100 in 1821, plus a Carte-de-Visite (CDV) and 3 trade cards of Joseph Ventress (probably Robert's son born in 1810). A very fine family musical archive with photos and a family tree. A very nice pice of ephemera. Size is 8.5 x 4.7 inches, 16 pages, in very good condition.

Old piece of curtain, apparently from the Royal Opera House, irregularly shaped and sized 4.5 x 3 inches. In very good condition, sold together with an original, vintage engraving of the Theatre Royal by John Rolph, published in 1828 by John & Co., London. Engraving is 7.25 x 4.8 inches, in very good condition. The Theatre Royal was the former name of the current Royal Opera House theater from 1809 until 1847, that building was destroyed by fire in 1858 and the current (and 3rd building) theater was inaugurated. This item requires a leap of faith since there is no physical proof that it was part of the theater.  

German ice skater (1897-1960), performed in ice skating shows in both Europe and throughout the U.S. and also appeared in the 1934 film Der Springer von Pontresina. Signed postcard photograph, size is 3.25 x 5.25 inches, in excellent condition. 

German ice skater (1897-1960), performed in ice skating shows in both Europe and throughout the U.S. and also appeared in the 1934 film Der Springer von Pontresina. Signed postcard photograph, size is 3.5 x 5.25 inches, in excellent condition.

Official magazine of the Salzburger Festspiele 1950, 24 pages, complete, 6.5 x 9 inches, with photos and articles.

Russian actress (1854-1915), unsigned cabinet photo, shown possibly in role. Size is 2.4 x 4.1 inches, in excellent condition.

Program for the play "Sapho" (1938), starred and signed by the French actress (1873-1966) at Teatro Odeon, Buenos Aires.   Size is 6.1 x 9.1 inches, in very good condition.

German actress (1862-1927), signed photo postcard, shown in Minna Von Barnheim, German stage comedy by Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, dated in 1906. Size is 3.5 x 5.5 inches, in excellent condition. 

Two volumes (original title "Die Auffuhrungen der Opern von Richard Strauss im 20 Jahrhundert") of a colossal work listing all the performances of Strauss operas, including those few in the 19th century, and all of the 20th century, in all theaters. Conductors, directors, singers of the principal parts. These 2 volumes contains information about almost 4,400 productions revivals, revised productions, guest performances of visiting companies, performances during Strauss`days and concert productions of the 16 operas by Strauss in the world - totaling almost 50,000 performances, almost 7,000 casts with 13,000 artists.  Written in German, but easy to consult since this is mostly a huge database in tables - only 74 pages with text are written in German, 2 with important information are translated into English. Published by Hans Schneider. 2 Volumes - See a scan of an example of a table with information.

Program-libretto from around 1840s, for a performance of Tancredi, opera by Rossini, at Millar´s Theater in London. Cast includes star soprano Giuditta Pasta (1797-1865) among other singers, in excellent condition. No original covers, but all pages are there, all in excellent condition. Size is 4.25 x 7.25 inches.

Receipt of payment for AR$20 for a subscription for the first opera season at Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), dated in 1908, at Teatro Colon, signed by the theater personnel. Size is 9.4 x 6.9 inches, 1 sheet, loss of paper over the upper-right corner, pinholes at the top, otherwise in very good condition.

Small poster with caricatures of famous singers, advertising Teatro San Carlos in Lisbon, Portugal, early 1900s. Main artists include Hariclea Darclee, baritone Massimo Scaramella, tenor Alfred Rittershaus, sopranos Olga Carrera and Valentina Mendioroz, tenor Valentin Duc, bass Agostino Lanzoni and others, totalling 10 singers. Mini poster is mounted on a slightly larger hard cardboard to a total size of 11.25 x 15.75 inches, some rust, in very good condition.