Eleonora Duse
Italian actress, 1858-1924
"Eleonora Duse came to fame in Italian versions of roles made famous by Sarah Bernhardt. She gained her first major success in Europe, then toured South America, Russia and the United States; beginning the tours as a virtual unknown but leaving in her wake a general recognition of her genius. While she made her career and fame performing in the theatrical ""warhorses"" of her day, she is today remembered more for her association with the plays of Gabriele d'Annunzio and Henrik Ibsen. In 1896, Duse completed a triumphant tour of the United States; in Washington President Grover Cleveland and his wife attended every performance."
Source: Wikipedia
singer and actress (1858-1924). 2 autograph letters signed ("E" and "E. Duse"). N. p. o. d. and Genoa. 8vo. Altogether (1+2 =) 3 pp. on 3 ff. With 1 autogr. envelope.
$ 2,015 / 1.800 €
(34090/BN29834)
I: To a Cristina, on a performance of the Spanish violinist Pablo de Sarasate: "Cara Cristina se ti secchi di venire al concerto allora rifiuta, ma se sei curiosa di sentire er sor Sarasate, io ho un posto sul palco mio da offrirti [...]". - II: To a critic who had reviewed her work favourably, with congratulation for his wedding: "[...] Oggi, credo, ella sia di ritorno [dal viaggio di nozze] ed eccomi ultima fra le ultime ad augurarle tutte le cose buone che un cuore buono può augurare a una persona cui si vuol bene [...]". - I: Negligibly spotty. II: Rather stained; the reverse written in someone else's hand.
singer and actress (1858-1924). Autograph letter signed. N. p. o. d. Large 8vo. 1 p. on bifolium.
$ 1,343 / 1.200 €
(34091/BN29835)
To an unnamed addressee: "Grazie che ti ricordi di me con le parole d'allora, cara, e Grande Emma. Ricambio ogni augurio. Spero rivederti una di queste sere in uno dei tuoi lavori prediletti. Ogni bene come sempre. | Eleonora Duse". - Fine document about the affection between the two greatest Italian actresses of that time. - Somewhat spotty.
singer and actress (1858-1924). Autograph calling card signed. N. p. o. d. Oblong 16mo. 1 page (2 lines).
$ 313 / 280 €
(92229/BN61260)
With thanks: "Grata. E. Duse". - Similar calling cards, but without Duse's autograph, can be found in the Museo Civico di Asolo, where an exhibition dedicated to the actress is housed. - Traces of old mounting on the verso.
Italian singer and actress (1858-1924). Autograph letter monogrammed. N. p. o. d. 8vo. 3¼ pp. on bifolium. In pencil. Together with an autograph envelope and a 1909 theater program and ticket for a performance of Ibsen's The Lady of the Sea with Eleonora Duse in Vienna, clipped and pasted on cardboard.
$ 896 / 800 €
(98030/BN63511)
To an unnamed marchese, possibly Giacinto Viviani della Robbia, concerning the renovation of a bathroom and other rearrangements to a property of the recipient. Although she suggests the topic, Duse subsequently underlines that she is "very tired" and cannot "for now (during winter) rethink a new rearrangement of rooms", thus stalling the project: "Quanto al progetto de la stanza toilette, al quale accennai ieri a un domestico della sua casa presente la mia visita, però, è prematuro parlarne.
Ne parleremo al mio ritorno perché ora, fra tante 'rimuginio' (si dice cosí?) […] mi sento assai stanca - e non potrei, per ora (durante inverno) ripensare a un nuovo riordinamento di stanze, al quale pensiero, ma con più calma al mio ritorno. Sensi [?] il Lapis me ho appunto degli operai in stanza". - In 1898, Gabriele d'Annunzio moved to the Villa La Capponcina in Settignano near Florence, adjacent to Duse's Villa La Porziuncola. It is conceivable that Eleonora Duse was in contact with the Marchese Giacinto Viviani della Robbia, the owner of the Villa La Capponcina, in order to coordinate some renovations in her lover's domicile..