New York Week Preview, Part 5: PADA
And now for the grand finale of our Preview Week here at the FB&C blog: 9 Items Not To Miss at PADA's Spring Show on Sunday. Looks like music and politics are quite popular this year!
1. Herndon-Lincoln letter (seen above, courtesy of the Raab Collection). You've seen Lincoln letters before, you say? This one is "a newly discovered primary resource," says Nathan Raab. Just this week, Raab announced this special find. The letter, written by Lincoln's law partner, William H. Herndon, sheds light on the president's religious beliefs, calling him "a Theist & a Rationalist." The letter will be on display at both the NYABF & PADA. $35,000
1. Herndon-Lincoln letter (seen above, courtesy of the Raab Collection). You've seen Lincoln letters before, you say? This one is "a newly discovered primary resource," says Nathan Raab. Just this week, Raab announced this special find. The letter, written by Lincoln's law partner, William H. Herndon, sheds light on the president's religious beliefs, calling him "a Theist & a Rationalist." The letter will be on display at both the NYABF & PADA. $35,000
| 2. Jerome Kern's script (seen above). La Scala Autographs will be offering the American composer's annotated working script from the 1946 Oscar-nominated film, Centennial Summer, along with his nomination certificate from the film. $5,000 |
| 3. Susan B. Anthony letter (seen above). An excellent ALS on National Woman Suffrage Association letterhead, this letter is dated Feb. 5, 1885. Writing to an unnamed man, Anthony writes, "My dear sir/That you may/work for the establish-/ment of perfect equality/of rights for women--/civil/and political--is the hope of/yours sincerely/Susan B. Anthony/Rochester/N.Y." Offered by Edward N. Bomsey Autographs for $2,250. |
| 4. Wallenberg document (seen above). Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg "courageously saved thousands of Hungarian Jews from Nazi extermination during World War II," notes Lion Heart Autographs, which is selling a rare "letter of exemption" from August 1944 that Wallenberg issued to Baroness Antoanette Hatvany in order to protect her. $17,500 |
| 5. Robert Schumann's Opus (seen above). A copy of Allegro (Opus 8), inscribed to the official dedicatee of the composition, Schumann's first great love, Ernestine von Fricken, the woman to whom he was first engaged before his marriage. Composed in 1831 and published in late 1834, this presentation score also bears the bookplate of German conductor & composer Max Fiedler. A truly rare and romantic piece from Schubertiade Music. $30,000 |
| 6. Annie Oakley autographed photo (seen above). A handsome profile portrait of the sharpshooting Oakley, which she inscribed on the lower mount "For Mr. Thompson/With all good wishes/From/Annie Oakley/1908." The photo is in its original photographer's folder, complete with tissue guard, and in fine condition says dealer Catherine Barnes. $8,500 |
| 7. Einstein TLS (seen above). Seth Kaller will be exhibiting at both NYABF & PADA. One of his highlighted items for Sunday's show is a typed letter signed by Albert Einstein from 1954, in which the scientist characterizes himself as a "deeply religious non-believer." On Einstein's Princeton stationery. $26,000 |
| 8. Puccini's NY contract (seen above). An original contract between Giacomo Puccini and the Metropolitan Opera outlining the details of Puccini's world premiere of "La Fanciulla del West" on Dec. 10, 1910. Signed by Puccini and Giulio Gatti-Casazza, the Met's general manager. Offered by Roger Gross Music Autographs for $15,000 |
| 9. Lincoln-signed debate book (seen above). We come full circle back to Lincoln, who seems a hot ticket this year. Sylvia Castle of the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop is bringing a Lincoln-inscribed copy of Political Debates Between Hon. Abraham Lincoln and Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, In The Celebrated Campaign of 1858...(1860). It was inscribed (in pencil!) in February of 1861 to W.T. Bascom, who was instrumental in arranging the publication of the book. It is one of only 42 extant signed copies of this book, and the only one that Lincoln signed as president-elect. $175,000 |
| The spring autograph show of the Professional Autograph Dealers Association will be held on Sunday, April 10 at the Helmsley Park Lane Hotel on Central Park South from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. My thanks to Stuart Lutz for helping me wrangle the information for this preview! |
