The Autographs and Collectible Memorabilia Blog

The Met 1910-17: The Toscanini Era and the Winds of War

NEW BROOMS At the start of the 1910-11 season, Giulio Gatti-Casazza and Arturo Toscanini had secured mastery over the artistic fortunes of the Met, but rather than settle into complacency, they strengthened their resolve to give New York a program of meticulously prepared revivals of the standard repertoire, premieres of...

Marcel Proust: Une vie de lettres et d’images by Pedro Corrêa do Lago

When an author spends forty years of their life putting together a book that is as much labor of love as it is academic text, you know it’s going to reach a wider audience than a new life of Proust might otherwise do. Only a part of Pedro Corrêa do...

The History of Photographic Formats After 1924

The main challenge during the first 100 years of photographic printing was to develop a stable method for saving an image on paper. The following century was devoted to fine-tuning this process, yet, having reached the pinnacle of printing with exceptional clarity and vibrant colors, it is now largely ignored...

Did Callas give birth to a son by Onassis?

Soon after the sudden death of Maria Callas in 1977, rumors of a pregnancy by her lover Aristotle Onassis emerged, but of a forced abortion rather than a birth. Those close to her could not believe that she would have done this, as she desperately wanted a child. She had investigations for...

Jaws Memorabilia: The Ultimate Guide for Collectors

As one of the most iconic and memorable films in U.S. cinema history, Jaws catapulted Steven Spielberg from a fledgling director with promise to a household name who's never wavered from his place on the roster of box office royalty. Fans have feverishly collected Jaws memorabilia, from T-shirts to movie...

Haus der Musik - Oscillate Between History and Musical History and Interactive Experiences

The Haus der Musik, or "House of Music," is a museum in Vienna, Austria, dedicated to the history and appreciation of music. Located in the center of the city, the museum offers a variety of interactive exhibits, concerts, and educational programs for visitors of all ages. The self-proclaimed "musical adventure...

Farewell to Grace Bumbry: A Life of Trailblazing Success

THE BIRTH OF A STAR Grace Melzia Bumbry (1937-2023) was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on January 4, 1937; the third child of Benjamin Bumbry, a railroad freight handler, and Melzia Bumbry, a teacher, a family of modest meands, deeply religious and highly musical. [IMAGE] A beautiful black-and-white photograph signed...

19 Greatest Organ Composers in Classical Music

Organ music is one of the most beautiful and moving forms of classical music. It's also one of the more difficult to write, as the organ is an incredibly versatile instrument that can be used to create a wide range of moods and styles. But who are the greatest composers...

Farewell to Record Collector Larry Holdridge

Record collector and dealer Larry Holdridge - a unique and important member of the classical music community passed on February 7th, 2023. Lawrence “Larry” Holdridge of Amityville, New York was 83 years old and died after a short illness. His key place in the current music scene was little known,...

We are at the 63rd New York International Antiquarian Book Fair!

Every year, over 20 thousand visitors come to the New York International Antiquarian Book Fair, at the Park Avenue Armory. Event is organized by ABAA (Antiquarian Bookseller Association of America). 200 dealers, mostly from the United States and Europe bring their best items and exhibit them here, in the largest...

Personalized Autographs: What They Are and Are They Less Valuable?

A personalized autograph is one that includes the name of the recipient (for example “To Ken” or “For Ken”). Sometimes a short salutation or expression of good wishes is added (for example, “with best wishes”). This is what we also call a sentiment. There has always been a lot of...

To Frame or Not to Frame: That's the Big Question - Pros and Cons

The original Engrossed Copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence contains one of the most recognizable groups of historic autographs. The oversized piece of parchment paper is a priceless founding document and one of five that the government protects with extra security. The copy sits out on display every day...

Titans on the Met Podium, 1907-1909: Mahler and Toscanini

HEINRICH CONRIED FIRED BY MET BOARD In June 1907, when Heinrich Conried announced “the engagement of the very best of all musical directors Gustav Mahler,” his own days as impresario of the Metropolitan Opera were numbered. The Board, deeply dissatisfied with his decisions about repertoire and casting, and his crass...

Ned Rorem: American Composer and Diarist

"Divine fires do not blaze each day, but an artist functions in their afterglow hoping for their recurrence." —Ned Rorem. Ned Rorem was perhaps a little humble when he spoke these words, as his output, both musical and written, is nothing short of prolific. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Music...

Haydn Wohnhaus - Where an Era Ended

On a recent trip to Vienna, we stepped into the world of one of the greatest classical composers of all time at the Haydn Wohnhaus Museum. Housed in the very building where Joseph Haydn lived and worked for much of his life, this museum offers a unique opportunity to learn...

Cosima Wagner: The ideal companion

INTRODUCTION Francesca Gaetana Cosima Liszt was the second daughter of Marie d'Agoult and Franz Liszt. She was born on December 24, 1837. Her unusual third name was derived from the lake in Italy where he parents had gone to wait for her birth. Cosima lived to reach ninety-two, outliving her...

Recently Acquired - Composer Christopher Rouse Autograph Collection

We have just acquired a fantastic collection of autographs that belonged to American composer Chris Rouse (1949-2019). See more details at the bottom of this article - Let´s first know a bit more about the person and the composer. CHRIS ROUSE - THE MAESTRO OF EMOTION Born in Baltimore on...

Gustavo Dudamel Next Music Director of the NY Philharmonic

Gustavo Dudamel will be the new Music Director for the New York Philharmonic. The energetic and charming conductor will take up his new post in 2026 and is determined to develop something memorable and profound with his new orchestra. The New York Philharmonic is the oldest symphony orchestra in the...

Autograph Signature vs. Autograph Inscription vs. Autograph Sentiment

These three terms are frequently used and often confused in the autograph collecting world, so we thought it would be a good idea to clarify their true meaning. In the photograph below, we have highlighted what each term means, and we describe them further in the rest of this article. ...

Hariclea Darclée - Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore: The life and times of the first Tosca

Hariclea Darclée Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore | The life and times of the first Tosca Author: René Seghers 500 pages Hardcover with dustwrapping, printed on luxurious paper Over 110 colour(ed) and meticulously restored photographs Including a 78-page Chronology, discography, index of names Limited edition of 100 copies Publisher: Darclee.com Author...

Leonard Bernstein Conducting the New York Philharmonic, 1958 to 1969

Born a few months before the end of the First World War, it’s impossible to put a single label on Leonard Bernstein - even ‘musician’ seems inadequate, as he was equally important and influential as both music educator and humanitarian as conductor and composer. One of the most influential Americans, let alone musicians, of the twentieth century, Bernstein was also the first conductor both born and trained in America to be Music Director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Prince Memorabilia - A Wide Range of Collectibles

Born Prince Rogers Nelson in 1958, the artist known as Prince died unexpectedly of an accidental overdose in 2016 at the age of 57. Within his life, however, the acclaimed musician sold more than 100 million records worldwide, a feat that marks him as one of the best-selling musicians of...

Apollo's Angels: A Short History of Ballet

THE BIRTH OF BALLET When Florentine Catherine de Medici married french king Henry II in 1533, she introduced early dance styles into court life in France. Catherine brought the Italian influence to the French courts. She introduced chariots, floats, and parades, all of which demonstrated meaningful stories. Her sons, the...

Cleo de Merode: The Start of the Celebrity Culture

It’s easy to think of celebrity culture as being a modern phenomenon. Fueled by social media, celebrity is now a throwaway term, as anyone with a successful YouTube channel or Instagram account demonstrates. However, in terms of how we understand celebrity in the twenty-first century, Cleo de Merode was the...

THE AUTOGRAPH BLOG

The Met 1910-17: The Toscanini Era and the Winds of War

Marcel Proust: Une vie de lettres et d’images by Pedro Corrêa do Lago

The History of Photographic Formats After 1924

Did Callas give birth to a son by Onassis?

Jaws Memorabilia: The Ultimate Guide for Collectors

Haus der Musik - Oscillate Between History and Musical History and Interactive Experiences

Farewell to Grace Bumbry: A Life of Trailblazing Success

19 Greatest Organ Composers in Classical Music

Farewell to Record Collector Larry Holdridge

We are at the 63rd New York International Antiquarian Book Fair!

Personalized Autographs: What They Are and Are They Less Valuable?

To Frame or Not to Frame: That's the Big Question - Pros and Cons

Titans on the Met Podium, 1907-1909: Mahler and Toscanini

Ned Rorem: American Composer and Diarist

Haydn Wohnhaus - Where an Era Ended

Cosima Wagner: The ideal companion

Recently Acquired - Composer Christopher Rouse Autograph Collection

Gustavo Dudamel Next Music Director of the NY Philharmonic

Autograph Signature vs. Autograph Inscription vs. Autograph Sentiment

Hariclea Darclée - Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore: The life and times of the first Tosca

Leonard Bernstein Conducting the New York Philharmonic, 1958 to 1969

Prince Memorabilia - A Wide Range of Collectibles

Apollo's Angels: A Short History of Ballet

Cleo de Merode: The Start of the Celebrity Culture

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Autograph Collecting Guide

Framing and Storing Autographs