Sell or Auction Your George Gershwin Signed Porgy and Bess for up to About $5,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your George Gershwin signed Porgy and Bess that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
Free Appraisal, Auction or Sell Your George Gershwin Signed Porgy and Bess
George Gershwin is one of the most notable composers of the 20th century who wrote both classical and stage and screen music. Some of his most well-known compositions include Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, the opera Porgy and Bess and songs Swanee and Fascinating Rhythm. Gershwin passed away in 1937 at the age of 38 due to a brain tumor. He was posthumously nominated for an Academy Award, a Congressional Gold Medal and a Pulitzer Prize. Gershwin has had a theater, a junior high school, a hotel and a cruise ship’s deck named after him.
Below is a recent realized price for George Gershwin signed copy of Porgy and Bess. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to this amount or more for you:
George Gershwin Signed Porgy and Bess. Sold for About $5,000.
The following are some prices we have realized for George Gershwin memorabilia:
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 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 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 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.
Rare George Gershwin at the Piano 10” x 8” Signed and Inscribed Photo
George Gershwin signed and inscribed photo, featuring a classic shot of the young composer at his piano. Signed in fountain pen on the photographic surface beneath the image, ”To Mrs. N.B. Putnam – All my good wishes, George Gershwin”. Photo measures 10” x 8” and is in very good condition with a somewhat faded, but still very legible signature. George Gershwin died at the age of 38 in 1938, making signed material by him difficult to obtain. Sold for $2,384.
George Gershwin Signed First Edition of His Biography, “George Gershwin / A Study in American Music”
George Gershwin signed first edition of his biography, “George Gershwin / A Study in American Music” by Isaac Goldberg. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1931. Gershwin inscribes the frontispiece verso in blue fountain pen, “For Winnie Sheehan who made my first venture into musical talkies a great pleasure / George Gershwin / Sept. 24, 1931.” With illustrated photographic endpapers and Gershwin’s stamped signature in gilt to front cover. Book measures 5.5″ x 8.125″. Mild shelf wear and rubbing to backstrip, overall very good plus condition. Sold for $1,900.
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.
George Gershwin Signs a Personal Check — Rare
Five years before his untimely death at age 38, great American composer George Gershwin signs a personal check, ”George Gershwin”. Made payable to the New York Telephone Company in an unknown hand, the check is printed with Gershwin’s name and New York address, 33 Riverside Drive. Dated 11 January 1932. Measures 6.5” x 2.75”. Light toning and discreet cancellation marks affecting part of his signature, else near fine. Sold for $916.
Here is some additional music memorabilia we sold:
Scarce Signature by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — With PSA/DNA COA
Scarce signature by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with his strong paraph accentuating his signature, ”Mozart”. Clipped signature is likely from an autograph letter signed, as the closing word is also in Mozart’s hand. Although Mozart was a prolific composer, his signature is scarce, with a two-line autograph note also signed ”Mozart” selling for over $200,000 in 2015. Signed slip measures 3” x 1.125”. Hinged at right edge to larger sip of paper. In very good condition, with a bold signature by the great composer. With PSA/DNA COA. Sold for $31,394.
1826 First Printing of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony — Complete Score — Incredibly Scarce
First printing of the Complete Score of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony in C minor, by Ludwig van Beethoven. “Cinquieme Sinfonie en ut mineur: C Moll de Louis van Beethoven. Oeuvre 67 Partition.” Leipzig: Breitkopf & Hartel: March 1826. Octavo book runs 182 pages and measures 6.75″ x 10.75″ inches. In original printed wrappers with edges untrimmed. Front wrapper has been restored with adhesive tape along the bottom and fore-edge. A near fine copy housed in a modern clamshell case. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor is possibly the most recognized work of classical music ever written. Its dramatic four-note opening is known worldwide and remains rooted in popular culture. The symphony was written over a four year period commencing in 1804 and first performed in Vienna in 1808. Though the first printed edition appeared in 1809, it is believed that this edition is the first printing of the complete score, comprising all four movements. This is a remarkably well-preserved copy of this important and historic work. Incredibly scarce copy rarely seen at auction. Sold for $12,000.
Richard Strauss Signed, Handwritten Musical Manuscript for the Final Scene in His Opera, “Die schweigsame Frau”
Richard Strauss autograph manuscript signed for the final scene in his 1935 opera “Die schweigsame Frau” (“The Silent Woman”), a comedic opera written with librettist Stefan Zweig. Written on three 10.5″ x 14″ pages of bifolium manuscript, Strauss signs “Richard Strauss” at the top of the first page, where he also writes “Schwanengesang” (“Swan Song”). Sold for $10,500.
Maurice Ravel Signed and Handwritten Musical Quotation for ”Valses Nobles et Sentimentales”
Maurice Ravel autograph musical quotation signed, with Ravel handwriting five bars from his waltz, Valses Nobles et Sentimentales V, Presque lent – dans un sentiment intime. Signed and dated ”Maurice Ravel” from St. Cloud, France on 28 September 1919. Document measures 9.375” x 3”, framed with a photo of Ravel at his piano to a size of 14.25” x 17.25”. Single fold and light uniform toning, overall in very good plus condition. Sold for $4,000.
Max Reger Autograph Musical Quotation Signed, Plus Handwritten Note Signed — “…regard this page with aversion and to turn to another page at once…”
German composer, pianist and conductor Max Reger autograph musical quotation signed. Reger handwrites three bars from his unpublished choral work, “Hoch lebe dies Haus” (translated “Long Live This House”), on two hand-drawn staves, with holograph lyrics, in German. Signed and dated “Max Reger / 7 June 1905” and additionally signed by his wife, Elsa Reger. Max additionally writes the following cheeky instructions in German underneath the AMQS, “Professors at academies and universities ‘against’ music are urged, in the interest of their own health, to regard this page with aversion and to turn to another page at once.” Reger signs again, “Max Reger / Prague 7 June 1905”. Single page measures 8.5″ x 10.75″ on paper with margins ruled in orange-red. Uniform toning, overall in very good plus condition. Sold for $1,957.
FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your George Gershwin signed Porgy and Bess that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
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