ART & MUSIC
AUGUSTUS SAINT-GAUDENS — THE DESIGNER OF THE US $20 GOLD PIECE
SAINT-GAUDENS, AUGUSTUS. (1848 – 1907). American sculptor, designed the $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle gold piece (1905–1907) for the US Mint, considered one of the most beautiful American coins ever issued. His scarce signature, penned on a 1 1/3 x 3 ½ [approx] slip of light green stationery. Very fine condition.
LA VIDA SECRETA DE SALVADOR DALI — [THE SECRET LIFE OF SALVADOR DALÍ] – BOLDY INSCRIBED
DALI, SALVADOR. (1904-1989). Spanish Catalan surrealist painter famous for the striking and bizarre images in his work. The book: La Vida Secreta de Salvador Dali — [The secret life of Salvador Dalí]. Cream cloth covers with red imprinted spine and cover art. Poseidon, Buenos Aires, 1944. 547 pages, in Spanish. Large octavo. First edition thus. Boldly Inscribed on the front endpaper by Dali.
VERDI QUESTIONS THE INEXPLICABLE ARRIVAL OF “55 BOTTLES OF ROMINO!” AT THE OUTRAGEOUS PRICE OF 1.85 LIRA!
VERDI, GIUSEPPE. (1813-1901). Italian composer; his masterworks include: Rigoletto (1851), Il Trovatore (1853), La Traviata (1853), Don Carlos (1867), and Aïda (1871). Attractive Autograph Letter Signed “G. Verdi”. One page, octavo. [Bugereto?], Italy June 13, 1894. Very fine condition.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT TO HENRY CABOT LODGE ~~ RECOMMENDING NOTED NAVAL ARTIST HENRY REUTERDAHL FOR A COMMISSION
ROOSEVELT, THEODORE. (1858-1919). Twenty-sixth President of the United States (1901-1909). Choice Typed Letter Signed, “Theodore Roosevelt”, on his name-imprinted Metropolitan letterhead. One page, quarto. “432 Fourth Avenue, New York”, May 15, 1917. Very fine condition.
SUPERB SILVER ALBUMIN PHOTOGRAPH OF BRITISH NAVAL SCENE PAINTER CLARKSON STANFIELD ~~ BY MAULL AND POLYBANK’S LONDON STUDIO
STANFIELD, CLARKSON FREDERICK. (1793–1867) Prominent English painter who was best known for his large-scale paintings of dramatic marine subjects and landscapes. Simply stunning large silver albumin photograph portrait of Stanfield.
SAMUEL CLEMENS WRITES A CHECK FOR $750 TO HELP BUY A PIPE ORGAN FOR THE PARK CHURCH IN ELMIRA, N.Y. — A PLACE THAT WAS TO BE CENTRAL TO HIS SPIRITUAL LIFE
CLEMENS, SAMUEL L. [MARK TWAIN]. (1835-1910.) American humorist, lecturer and writer. Partly-Printed Check Signed, “S.L. Clemens”. One page, oblong octavo. New York, January 31, 1907. Fine condition. Drawn on Knickerbocker Trust Company and made out to ‘The Hope-Jones Organ Co.’ in the amount of “seven hundred fifty” dollars.
THE SIGNED HANDPRINT OF CECIL B. DEMILLE ~~ ACKNOWLEDGED FATHER OF AMERICAN CINEMA
DeMILLE, CECIL B. (1881–1959). Legendary American film director, producer and actor; between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 feature films, both silent and sound; acknowledged as a founding father of the American cinema; his films are distinguished by their epic scale and by his cinematic showmanship. His right handprint, boldly signed, “C.B. DeMille” in the right margin, aligned below his handprint.