There are 4236 lots that match your search criteria. Subscribe now to get instant access to the full price guide service.
Click here to subscribeAn early 20thC cello, with pine case and ebonised articulated knops, partially strung with a two piece back, various handwritten annotations to the interior (without label) with later bridge and leather case and extending metal edge point the main body 118cm wide, with hand written date to the interior. (AF)
*Schubert (Franz). Rare Decca SXL 6426 Stereo Wideband vinyl record, Sonata in A Minor for Arpeggione and Piano, D.821, Frank Bridge, Sonata for Cello and Piano, Mstislav Rostropovitch on Cello and Benjamin Britten on Piano, record in excellent condition on both sides, labels also in excellent condition, free of any defects and without spindle marks, matrix numbers ZAL-9193-1W and ZAL-9194-3W, record sleeve also in excellent / near mint condition with Clarifoil lamination completely intact, no side splits, writing or other defects Rare original first stereo pressing from 1969 with Wideband ED3 label (ED1 and ED2 versions do not exist for this record), one of the most sought after classical records in the highly collectible Decca SXL-series, seldom found in this condition. (1)
ELGAR EDWARD: (1857-1934) English Composer. 'I do not like the tone of his letter & it is all nonsense…'A.L.S., Edward Elgar, two pages, 4to, Hereford, 30th July 1908, to [Alfred H.] Littleton. Elgar thanks his correspondent for their letter commenting on one received from a Mr. Foote of Tunbridge Wells and continues 'I do not remember writing to him, probably his letter to me was acknowledged. I return his letter (no longer present) & shall be much obliged if you will let him know that I will not go'. He further remarks 'I do not like the tone of his letter & it is all nonsense for him to talk of educating the south. I send some letters (also no longer present) I have received from Tunbridge Wells & you will see they have done Gerontius and the Kingdom. I do not know anything of the society but it looks as if Mr. Foote wanted to take the wind out of the other people's sails - But I do not know. I only guess & may be wrong. Anyhow it seems clear that things are not so stagnant as Mr. Foote seems to want me to think'. In a hastily written postscript Elgar adds that he will write concerning a symphony very soon. Some very light, minor age wear and creasing to the edges, and with a few very minor repairs to a few tears, not affecting the text or signature. About VG Alfred H. Littleton (1845-1914) Chairman of the music publishers Novello & Co. Elgar refers to Francis J. Foote, conductor, composer and leader of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Choral Society. A separate organisation, the Tunbridge Wells Vocal Association, founded in 1870, also existed in the affluent Kent town which naturally gave rise to a certain amount of rivalry. In 1907 Foote made the mistake of announcing that he would begin rehearsing Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius. However, the Vocal Association beat him to it and staged a performance of the work on 19th March 1907, followed by a performance of The Kingdom on 30th March 1908, both of which Elgar refers to in the present letter. On each occasion Elgar sent the Association a 'best wishes' telegram as it was the first time these two works had been performed in the area. In fact Foote never did succeed in performing any of Elgar's works in Tunbridge Wells. Many of Elgar's works have entered the British and international concert repertoire and among his best known works are orchestral compositions including the Enigma Variations (Op.36 1898-99) and the Pomp and Circumstance Marches (Op.39, 1901-30). He also composed concertos for violin and cello, two symphonies as well as choral works, including The Dream of Gerontius (Op.38, 1900).
LATE 19TH/EARLY 20TH CENTURY FRENCH CELLO, having double scribed outline, two piece back and scrolled tuning head with ebonised pegs, bearing label: John Baptiste Allo, Orleans. Back length: 76cm. Together with two ivory and mother-of-pearl mounted bows. (3) CONDITION REPORT: Notable crack to front of body, bridge missing, no strings, scuffs, marks, paint flecks and dirt commensurate with use. Two bows being of differing lengths and appearing complete, with wear.
An Edwardian diamond tiara, the gift of the 6th Earl Spencer to his daughter, composed of alternating linear and oval motifs in a graduated almost complete circlet, and set with more than eight hundred old round brilliant, old European and old cushion cut diamonds, total estimated weight approximately 48cts; the tiara is held on its cushioned frame by tiny and beautifully engineered wing-topped screws, so that it may be removed, and it then divides by means of hidden clasps, the central three sections becoming a choker necklace (length 35cm) and the two outer sections joining to form a bracelet (currently lacks one clasp, but another could readily be copied and requires no diamonds), length 19cm. Stylistically, this tiara is a rarity, with its clean lines and sleek forms, both reminiscent of Neo-Classical and French Empire styles and also foreshadowing the geometric shapes of Art Deco jewellery. The diamonds are most likely to have been cut in the 19th century and are of commensurate high quality - bright, white, clean and lively. The craftsmanship is superb, and its adaptability into various jewels has been achieved with great and subtle skill. Provenance: The tiara was given by Charles Robert Spencer, the 6th Earl, to his daughter Lady Delia Spencer on the occasion of her marriage in 1914; thence by inheritance. Lady Delia (Adelaide) Spencer was the eldest child of the 6th Earl. Born in 1889, her childhood was a typical late Victorian aristocratic idyll, abruptly ended by the death of her mother when Delia was only just 17. She had no formal education, but was a gifted musician ('cello and piano) and continued for the while to have lessons at the Royal College of Music. But her father, then Viscount Althorp, had many social and political duties, so Delia, to a great extent, took on her mother's rôle as hostess, manager of the households in London and Northamptonshire, and a mother figure to her five younger siblings. Four years later, in 1910, her father inherited the Earldom from his much older half-brother, and Delia's position was settled in the heart of not only aristocratic and royal circles, but also of the movers and shakers of the day, usually much older than her. This was a formidable education. By family tradition, this is the tiara Delia's father gave her on the occasion of her marriage, on February 18th 1914, to the Hon. Sidney Peel, younger son of the 1st Lord Peel, Speaker of the House of Commons and grandson of the Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel: he was 42, she was 23. Such a gift was customary: Delia's own youthful (spasmodic) diaries record several instances of tiaras as gifts, and twice to a bride when she herself was one of the bridesmaids. In the photograph of her wedding day, as the happy couple emerge from the church, the outline of the tiara can be made out under the (now thrown back) veil. The Times of 13th February, 1914 gave an extensive report of the forthcoming nuptials, listing all the important personel and describing the bride's dress (white satin trimmed with a flounce of old point d'argenton lace, and a family Brussels lace veil). It also mentioned the guard of honour provided by Sidney's squadron of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry, and the article was dominated by a list of the presents received - a diamond brooch from Queen Alexandra, pearl and diamond pendant from Princess Victoria, and - 'From Earl Spencer: a diamond tiara, a moonstone and diamond pendant, a nova mina and diamond brooch, a ruby guard ring…' Many years later, in the 1930s, Delia records her younger sister, Lady Margaret Douglas-Home, wearing her tiara to a dance at Norfolk House. Delia herself adored dancing and seems to have had a great gift for ensuring the enjoyment of others. She was widowed in 1938, but unlike Queen Victoria (upon whose knee she reputedly once sat as a small child), she did not withdraw into permanent mourning. She was a close friend of the royal family, lady-in-waiting to the then Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), and renowned for the fun and energy of her company with friends and family alike. Delia's father had died in 1922, and her brother Jack (Albert John) became the 7th Earl; his son Johnnie (Edward John) became the 8th Earl in 1975, and he was father of Lady Diana Spencer, who married Prince Charles in 1981 (the year Delia died) to become the Princess of Wales. Thus, Delia was Princess Diana's great aunt (and great great aunt to Prince William and Prince Harry). There were many plaudits both during Delia's lifetime and after her death, summed up by a niece who wrote: 'There are very few life enhancers in this world and Delia was definitely one. We all want to live our lives to the full, and when you were with Delia you felt just that extra spark of vitality and understanding which makes all the difference to life … Anybody who came in contact with her was the happier.' A hardback copy of her biography, 'A Memoir of the Lady Delia Peel, born Spencer, 1889-1981' by Priscilla Napier, is offered with this lot, together with a photocopied reproduction of the Times report of the wedding.
CLASSICAL - A nice collection of around 70 x LPs with rare ED1 stereo pressings. Composers/works/performers include Herbert Von Karajan - Philharmonia Promenade Concert (SAX 2404 ED1), Curzon - Beethoven's Emperor (SXL 2002 ED1), Curzon - Grieg Piano Concerto (SXL 2173), Du Pre - Elgar Cello Concerto (EMI ED2 and 3), Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, John Ogdon, Royal Phil/Thomas Beecham, Brahms - Klavierkonzert Nr 2 (red stereo 138 683), Berlin Phil and Furtwangler. Condition is generally VG to Ex.
A pair of Goodmans Active speakers, a Hua Wei Ascend G300 phone and a Cello 7" High Resolution Android Tablet with HDMI and USB CONDITION REPORTS Unknown if in working order, contents are clean and tidy however the boxes are a little worn. The tablet appears to have the film attaches still but is a bit grubby to the front. No charge included - see images for full contents of Lot
VIOLIN BOOKS a qty of Violin reference books including Italian Violin Makers (Jalovec, 1952), British Violin Makers (Rev Morris, 1904), Universal Dictionary of Violin and Bow Makers Volume 1 (William Henley, 1959), Repairing Restoring and Adjustment of the Violin (Foucher, 1896), and various other books. Also with a qty of Cello tuning pegs, photographs etc.
CHINESE PRINTED CALENDARSPair of Chinese scroll-style printed calendars, each 40" x 14 1/2", printed in China by the Shanghai Commercial Press to advertise the Standard Oil Company of New York, or Socony, now known as Mobil. The first scroll is a colorful depiction of two gentlemen being serenaded by a group of gorgeously and elaborately dressed ladies with various musical instruments, against an elaborate architectural setting amongst fantastical mountains. The Socony logo appears at the lower left corner of the image, and a calendar in Chinese is printed at the bottom. The second scroll is another elaborate and colorful architectural scene, populated by warlords, ladies with musical instruments, peacocks, a tiger, and dancers. The Socony logo appears at the lower right corner, and again beneath the image, with a calendar in Chinese at the bottom. Both scrolls are strengthened by metal supports across the top and bottom edges, although one is missing from the latter scroll. The edges are noticeably chipped, with the latter example bearing several vertical tears at the top edge repaired on the verso with cello tape, else good to very good.
MAO CALENDAR PRINTER'S PROOFDelightful color poster, 24" x 42", 1965, a printer's proof for a calendar showing Mao full length in a very traditional pose with three young children, one of whom is presenting her leader with a bouquet. Folds, with a cello tape repair to a small tear on verso in area of Mao's elbow, else very good. From a single collection obtained entirely in China pre-2000.
"THE EAST WIND IS PREVAILING OVER THE WEST WIND CARTOON ANTHOLOGY"Chinese softbound publication, "The East Wind is Prevailing Over the West Wind Cartoon Anthology", by Shen Fan, et al. (Shanghai: Shanghai People's Fine Art Publishing House), 1958, 43pp. square 8vo., a collection of pro-Communist and anti-Western political cartoons. The most interesting of these depict the advances made by the Soviet space program over that of the Americans, including several depictions of the Sputnik orbital satellite, which was launched in October of 1957. Other illustrations comment of race relations in America and the perceived western desire to use atomic energy as a tool for war, rather than peace. The booklet appears to have been disbound and re-stapled, with several pages loose at the front. The cover bears soiling and toning, with a tear to one corner mended with cello tape, else very good. From a single collection obtained entirely in China pre-2000.
THE DEATH OF A MERCHANT CAPTAIN AT CANTONGood content A.L.S., 2pp. 8vo., Dec. 5, 1783, from Francis Werry to John Bonus, on the subject of the death of John's relative, Captain William Bonus, who commanded the Austrian Imperial East India Company ship GRAF ZIZENDORF. In part: "... I find myself under the disagreeable necessity of conveying to you the necessary advice of Capt. Bonus's decease which event took place on the 8th November at 7 o'clock in the evening, he dying aboard the ship at Whampoa ... His illness was a dysentery, a disorder very common to this climate. He depend'd too much on the strength of his constitution, and kept it secret some time. He was ill near six weeks, but about ten days before his death, came from Canton (where he had been ever since our arrival) down to the ship at Whampoa, hoping the change of air would assist him. On board he had the advice of several surgeons, who from the first thought he could not recover. Our ship has been very sickly, have buried twelve & have a number now sick. Capt. Bonus's man Richard has by his own desire been discharged to get home in an English ship, but at present he is very ill & I fear without great care, he will not recover, he has the very same disorder as his poor master had..." Werry also discusses the dispersal of Bonus's effects, and states that his burial was "... made decent and agreeable to the rank he held..." The document bears folds, with several splits with old cello tape repairs, else very good. The Austrian East India Company was established in 1722, in direct competition with the companies established by the British, French, and Dutch governments. It was abolished in 1727 due to mounting political pressure on the emperor.
"SMASH THE WAR TREATY BETWEEN U.S. AND CHIANG KAI SHEK!"An especially fierce and graphic anti-American poster: "Smash the War Treaty Between U.S. and Chiang Kai Shek, Resolutely Liberate Taiwan!", 30 1/2" x 21", published by the North East Pictorial Publishing House and printed by the same establishment, January, 1955. Very rare first edition, first printing. The most striking image on the poster is a resolute Chinese soldier preparing to impale a an American military figure resembling Douglas MacArthur and Chiang Kai Shek just as they are about to sign a defense treaty. Eight other cartoons appear at right showing Lyndon Johnson in military uniform abusing his new ally, an American officer in lockstep with a Japanese soldier's ghost, Americans bombing China, and so on. The poster was at one time split along two folds and repaired with cello tape - it should be properly restored and is in otherwise very good condition. One of the most impressive posters we've seen. From a single collection obtained entirely in China pre-2000.
Loading...
