Sell or Auction Your Stephen Sondheim Typed Letter Signed for up to Nearly $1,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
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Free Appraisal, Auction or Sell Your Stephen Sondheim Typed Letter Signed
Stephen Joshua Sondheim (/ˈsɒndhaɪm/; born March 22, 1930) is an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, Sondheim has been praised for having “reinvented the American musical” with shows that tackle “unexpected themes that range far beyond the [genre’s] traditional subjects” with “music and lyrics of unprecedented complexity and sophistication.” His shows have been acclaimed for addressing “darker, more harrowing elements of the human experience,” with songs often tinged with “ambivalence” about various aspects of life.
Below is a recent realized price for a Stephen Sondheim typed letter signed item. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to these amounts or more for you:
Stephen Sondheim Typed Letter Signed. Sold for nearly $1,000.
The following are some similar items we have sold at Nate D. Sanders Auctions:
Tony Award for the Stephen Sondheim Musical ”Pacific Overtures” in 1976 — Near Fine
Tony Award for the 1976 musical ”Pacific Overtures”, written by Stephen Sondheim. Tony is for ”Best Costume Designer”, awarded to famed designer Florence Klotz, whose career spanned four decades on Broadway and in film; Klotz even designed Elizabeth’s Taylor’s wedding dress to John Warner. The 3” Tony medallion, made of brass and bronze with a nickel plating, features the masks of comedy and tragedy with the words ”Antoinette Perry Award” on one side, and recipient information engraved upon the other, reading, ”The League of / New York Theatres / and Producers, Inc. / Presents to / Florence Klotz / Best Costume Designer / Pacific Overtures / For Distinguished Achievement / in Theatre / 1976”. Medallion pivots upon a black lacquered base, bringing the total height to 8.25” and depth and width each to 3.75”. Weighs 1lb. 9 oz. In very well preserved, near fine condition. From the estate of Florence Klotz. Sold for $18,750.
Elizabeth Taylor screen-worn gown from the 1977 film, ”A Little Night Music,” based on the successful 1973 Sondheim musical. Directed by Harold Prince, the film starred Taylor, Len Cariou, Lesley-Anne Down and Diana Rigg. Taylor played Desiree Armfeldt, a famous actress who tries to seduce a newly married former fling in Austria circa 1900. Custom-made for Elizabeth Taylor by renowned designer Florence Kotz for costumer Barbara Matera, gown has original ”Barbara Matera LTD, New York” tag sewn to inseam with ”Ms. Taylor” printed on it in typescript. Gown is lilac with a teal chiffon overlay and art nouveau-style floral patterns embroidered at bottom. Costume also includes a boned bodice and ruffled sleeves with attached satin belt. Measures 15” shoulder to shoulder and 57” inches in length, with a train. Dress is delicate where bodice is attached to skirt, else near fine condition overall. From the estate of Elizabeth Taylor and with Christie’s provenance. Sold for $6,083.
Academy First Award to Lennie Hayton for his score of the hit musical ”On the Town,” produced by MGM in 1949. The film starred Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly as sailors, and Ann Miller and Betty Garrett as their love interests. The number 517 and the copyright symbol are engraved into the film reel surface behind Oscar’s heels; the 1949 awards were the first year that the statues were numbered, starting with 501. The plaque across the front reads ”Academy First Award / To / Lennie Hayton / For The Scoring of the Musical Picture / ‘On The Town”’. The plaque on the reverse reads: ”Academy of / Motion Picture / Arts And Sciences / 1949”. The Dodge Manufacturing plaque near the bottom edge reads ”Manufactured under world rights granted / by Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences / To Dodge Inc. Trophies – Los Angeles California”. An LOA from Lena Horne’s daughter is also included in the lot (Lena Horne was married to Lennie Hayton). Gold-plated brittanium statue posing on a film reel stands 10.25” tall, 13.25” with base, made of spun brass measuring 5.25” in diameter. Statue weighs 6 lbs. 1.75 oz. The felt backing is present but has separated completely, and there are some very minimal flecks to the finish, else near fine. The gold lacquer finish remains brilliant. Sold for $128,540.
1935 Limited Edition Signed “Porgy & Bess”
Signed and numbered limited edition of George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess: An Opera in Three Acts.” Composed by George Gershwin; Libretto by Dubose Heyward; Lyrics by Dubose Heyward and Ira Gershwin; Directed by Rouben Mamoulian. Random House; New York; 1935. Number 214 of 250 limited edition copies printed in October 1935 and boldly signed in black ink to limitation page by George Gershwin, Dubose Heyward, Ira Gershwin and Rouben Mamoulian. Bound in full red leather with black leather labels and accompanied by original slipcase. 559pp. with full color frontis and title page illustrations. Minor overall wear and foxing. Chips to black leather labels on backstrip and some separation to slipcase. Signatures remain bold and clear. A scarce signed copy of this classic American folk opera in excellent condition. Sold for $5,372.
George Gershwin Signed Book Inscribed
Extremely rare George Gershwin inscribed biography. “George Gershwin” by Issac Goldberg. Inscribed in ink to front free endpaper: “For Robert Garland / A Baltimore boy who made good in the big city. / With Admiration, / George Gershwin / Sept, 29,1931…” Gershwin adds handwritten music to his inscription from his 2nd Rhapsody. Excellent condition. Sold for $3,546.
George Gershwin Signed Photo
Stunning matte finish autographed 8″ x 10″ signed photo of Gershwin playing the piano. Gershwin’s influence ranges far and wide: countless singers and musicians have recorded Gershwin songs, including Fred Astaire, Louis Armstrong, Al Jolson, Bobby Darin, Art Tatum, Bing Crosby, Janis Joplin, John Coltrane, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and Judy Garland. Quite rare in signed photos. In excellent condition. Sold for $3,600.
George Gershwin Signed Limited First Edition of “George Gershwin’s Songbook” — Beautiful Copy Signed by Gershwin & Illustrator Constantin Alajalov in 1932
Limited first edition of “George Gershwin’s Songbook”, beautifully rebound. Published by Random House: New York: 1932 and numbered 285 out of 300, songbook is housed in a custom-made clamshell case covered in burgundy cloth, which bears the title hand-tooled in 24kt gold on the black leather morocco spine. Separately included are the original boards, which have been replaced by acid-free leather and cloth boards, also hand-tooled in 24kt gold. Gershwin and illustrator Constantin Alajalov sign the rear free endpaper, dated May 1932. Fantastic songbook contains sheet music for such Gershwin classics as “Swanee”, “Fascinating Rythym”, “The Man I Love” among others, and contains color illustrations drawn by Alajalov preceding each musical piece. The 4pp. original special sheet music for “Mischa, Yascha, Toscha, Sascha” is housed in a black pocket affixed to the rear pastedown. Book measures 9.75″ x 13″ and runs 167pp. Slipcase measures 10.5″ x 1.5″ x 14.25″. Slight toning to the pages of the book as well as to the removable piece of sheet music. Near fine. Sold for $2,466.
Trio of wooden bar trays signed by George and Ira Gershwin and more than 40 other fixtures of mid-1930’s Broadway. Tray signed ”George Gershwin” and ”Ira Gershwin” includes key figures from their 10 October 1935 Broadway debut of the hit opera ”Porgy & Bess,” set in an all-black section of 1920’s South Carolina. Ira adds a tiny sketch of himself taking a bow beside his signature. Tray is also signed by ”Porgy” novelist ”DuBose Heyward” and conductor ”Alexander Smallens”, also ”Clifton Webb”, ”Sam Jaffe”, ”Franchot Tone” and nine others. Second tray is signed ”George M. Cohan”, ”Alfred Lunt”, ”Lynn Fontanne”, ”Judith Anderson”, ”Tallulah Bankhead”, ”Victor Moore”, ”Nazimova”, ”Raymond Massey”, ”Ruth Gordon”, ”Ina Claire”, ”Gladys Cooper”, ”Henry Fonda”, ”Mildred Natwick” and 12 others. The third tray has several quite faded signatures. Two of the trays are stamped to verso, ”Hand-Made / Buffet Tray / August Isaacson / Marshfield Oregon”. Two trays are additionally noted to verso: ”Property of / Marjorie Eaton”. Each tray measures 13” square. Some signatures are light. A few signatures have been very lightly coated with clear varnish. Very good to near fine overall. Sold for $1,220.
Claude Debussy Autograph Letter Signed to Paul Vidal
Rare autograph letter signed by French composer Claude Debussy, who writes to his friend, composer and conductor Paul Vidal. Upon his personal stationery embossed with his home address of “80 Avenue Du Bois De Boulogne”, Debussy’s letter in French translates, “December 13, 1910 / Dear friend, I will expect you tomorrow, Wednesday, at 5:30 / looking forward to seeing you, with my warmest regards / Claude Debussy”. Stationery folds to create envelope, postmarked on verso with Vidal’s name and address. Page measures 4.25″ x 5.5″. Light wear, else near fine. Sold for $1,472.
Giacomo Puccini Tosca Autograph Music Quotation Signed
Tosca is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on Victorien Sardou’s 1887 French-language dramatic play, La Tosca, is a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June 1800, with the Kingdom of Naples’s control of Rome threatened by Napoleon’s invasion of Italy. It contains depictions of torture, murder, and suicide, as well as some of Puccini’s best-known lyrical arias.
Large autograph musical quotation signed by operatic composer Giacomo Puccini for his masterpiece “Tosca”, his most famous work alongside “La Boheme” and “Madama Butterfly”. Done entirely in Puccini’s hand, the composer writes “Tosca” above its stanza, signed “Giacomo Puccini / Torre del Lago / 11-7-901″. He dedicates the piece to a Bianca. Measures 4.5″ x 7”. Uniform toning, otherwise near fine condition. Sold for $1,450.
Extraordinary Leonard Bernstein Signed Musical Quotation From West Side Story
Extraordinary Leonard Bernstein signed musical quotation from West Side Story. Acclaimed composer, Leonard Bernstein musical quotation inscribed in red ink, “To Alexander…Leonard Bernstein” Measures 9.25″ x 4.25″. Excellent condition. Sold for $1,350.
FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Stephen Sondheim typed letter signed that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
Consign your Stephen Sondheim typed letter signed at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images of your item to us at [email protected].
Stephen Sondheim typed letter signed