Done
New York, NY, United States
Auction Details
Autographs
It is doubtful that anyone needs to be reminded that the names of Americans have a surprising way of turning up on the pages of history. Foremost among them are the names of U.S. presidents, and the fall autographs auction includes some remarkable illustrations of this, including an extraordinary album of autographs by presidents—a continuous run of autograph letters, many outstanding in content and condition, from George Washington to Harry Truman—one of only a handful of such albums ever offered at auction (pictured left). Other important Americans in the sale include a Revolutionary War–dated letter signed by Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben concerning Cornwallis’s abandonment of his own troops; and an endorsement from Major General George Custer, signed by him during the Civil War.
The world is wide and there are heroes everywhere, like Marie Curie, whose uncommon autograph note signed to a dancer wanting help making her costume glow is available; or Florence Nightingale, who, in an attractive autograph letter, thanks an engineer for supplying equipment to a girls’ school in Sarajevo; or Rabindranath Tagore, who stole a moment to sign a photographic portrait of himself.
In addition to yet more exceptional autographs—such as a copy of Black Muslims in America signed and inscribed by Malcolm X, and the autograph notes by John Ford for his 1939 film Stagecoach—there are also notable items by writers, artists, entertainers, astronauts, scientists, musicians, and others.
Auction Curator:

Marco Tomaschett
Specialist, AutographsSold
0145: John Cage. Two items, each Signed, to Joseph Gerwood: Color Photograph * Brief Autograph Letter. Np;Est. $400-$600
Sold
0146: Enrico Caruso. Group of 4 items. 3 drawings, signature. [Stuttgart?], 1913; [Ostende?], nd; [NewEst. $1,000-$2,000
Sold
0147: Enrico Caruso. Two items: Autograph Letter Signed * Autograph Note, with small ink drawing. NewEst. $600-$900
Sold
0148: Claude Debussy. Autograph Note Signed, to "Miss" [his student Miss Worms de Romilly, later Mrs.Est. $700-$1,000
Sold
0149: Claude Debussy. Autograph Letter Signed, to "Miss" [his student Miss Worms de Romilly, later Mrs.Est. $700-$1,000
Sold
0150: Claude Debussy. Score for voice and piano of Chansons de Bilitis, Paris: EugËne Fromont, (1898)Est. $2,000-$3,000
Sold
0151: Claude Debussy. Autograph Letter Signed, to "Dear Sir and Friend," [Mr. GÈrard, husband of hisEst. $800-$1,200
Sold
0152: AntonÌn Dvor·k. Autograph Note Signed, "A. Dvor·k": "Hoping to see You / again soon."Est. $800-$1,200
Sold
0154: George Gershwin. Photograph Signed and Inscribed, "To Irving Gross-- With every good wish, / JulyEst. $1,000-$2,000
Sold
0155: George Gershwin. Two items: Clipped Signature * Graphite drawing, unsigned. Np, nd.Est. $700-$1,000
Sold
0156: Edvard Grieg. Autograph Letter Signed, to composer Otto Goldschmidt, in English, on a postcard.Est. $600-$900
0157: Ruggiero Leoncavallo. Autograph Letter Signed, "RLeondavallo," to costume designer Alfredo LeonardoEst. $600-$900Lot Passed
Sold
0158: Pietro Mascagni. Two items, each Signed, "PMascagni": Autograph Musical Quotation * InscribedEst. $1,000-$2,000
0159: Jules Massenet. HÈrodiade OpÈra en 4 Actes & 7 Tableaux. Piano-vocal score Signed andEst. $600-$900Lot Passed
Sold
0160: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy. Signature on leaf removed from an album, additionally signed by over 20Est. $800-$1,200
0161: NiccolÚ Piccinni. Letter Signed, to "Citizen Director." [Paris], 30 September 1799.Est. $600-$900Lot Passed
Sold
0162: Giacomo Puccini. Autograph Letter Signed, to Mr. Gr¸nfeld, in Italian. Milan, 16 December 1897.Est. $600-$900
Sold
0163: Giacomo Puccini. Autograph Note Signed, to an unnamed recipient ("Eg[regi]o Signore [Dear Sir]").Est. $400-$600
Sold
0164: Sergei Rachmaninoff. Sheet music for his Piano Concerto No. 2, dated and Signed, "S. Rachmaninoff."Est. $1,500-$2,500
Sold
0165: Arnold Schoenberg. Autograph Letter Signed, twice, to "Dear Mr. Rogers," in English. Brookline, MA,Est. $800-$1,200
Sold
0166: Franz Schubert. Autograph Musical manuscript, unsigned, fragment from Der Taucher, Np, 1813.Est. $60,000-$70,000
Sold
0167: Jean Sibelius. Sheet music for Valse romantique arranged for cello and piano Signed and Inscribed.Est. $600-$900
0168: Stephen Sondheim. Small archive of 8 Typed Letters Signed, in full or "Steve," to Daniel P. Quinn.Est. $800-$1,200Lot Passed
TOP




![Enrico Caruso. Group of 4 items. 3 drawings, signature. [Stuttgart?], 1913; [Ostende?], nd; [New: Enrico Caruso Group of 4 items: three graphite or ink drawings, including two Signed * Signature. The drawings, each a bust portrait drawn on verso of hotel stationery. The first, showing a](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603563_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)

![Claude Debussy. Autograph Note Signed, to "Miss" [his student Miss Worms de Romilly, later Mrs.: Claude Debussy Autograph Note Signed, to "Miss" [his student Miss Worms de Romilly, later Mrs. GÈrard de Romilly], in French, sending regards, looking forward to their Friday meeting, and](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603565_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)
![Claude Debussy. Autograph Letter Signed, to "Miss" [his student Miss Worms de Romilly, later Mrs.: Claude Debussy Autograph Letter Signed, to "Miss" [his student Miss Worms de Romilly, later Mrs. GÈrard de Romilly], in French, explaining that he must attend a rehearsal, hoping to meet on](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603566_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)
![Claude Debussy. Score for voice and piano of Chansons de Bilitis, Paris: EugËne Fromont, (1898): Claude Debussy Score for voice and piano of Chansons de Bilitis, Signed and Inscribed, "a: E. Damati[?] / bien cordialement," settings for three poems from Pierre Louˇs's work by the same name](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603567_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)
![Claude Debussy. Autograph Letter Signed, to "Dear Sir and Friend," [Mr. GÈrard, husband of his: Claude Debussy Autograph Letter Signed, to "Dear Sir and Friend," [Mr. GÈrard, husband of his former student Miss Worms de Romilly], in French, explaining that he has an engagement on Sunday in](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603568_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)







![Jules Massenet. HÈrodiade OpÈra en 4 Actes & 7 Tableaux. Piano-vocal score Signed and: Jules Massenet HÈrodiade OpÈra en 4 Actes & 7 Tableaux. Piano-vocal score Signed and Inscribed, "‡ Mademoiselle / [name rubbed out] / hommage d'un ami de son pËre / J. Massenet](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603576_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)

![NiccolÚ Piccinni. Letter Signed, to "Citizen Director." [Paris], 30 September 1799.: Seeking money due to him a few months before his death NiccolÚ Piccinni Letter Signed, "N. Piccinni / Maison d'angivilliers," to "Citizen Director," in French, pleading that he order the](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603578_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)

![Giacomo Puccini. Autograph Note Signed, to an unnamed recipient ("Eg[regi]o Signore [Dear Sir]").: Giacomo Puccini Autograph Note Signed, to an unnamed recipient ("Eg[regi]o Signore [Dear Sir]"), in Italian, thanking for his kind reception in the city of Lausanne. 1 page, 12mo; faint marginal](https://p1.liveauctioneers.com/199/394464/218603580_1_x.jpg?height=310&quality=70&version=1761766804)





