George Gershwin
American composer and pianist, 1898-1937
Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions Rhapsody in Blue (1924) and An American in Paris (1928) as well as the opera Porgy and Bess (1935). Initially a commercial failure, Porgy and Bess is now considered one of the most important American operas of the twentieth century. Gershwin's compositions have been adapted for use in many films and for television, and several became jazz standards recorded in many variations. Many celebrated singers and musicians have covered his songs.
Source: Wikipedia
American composer (1898-1937). Portrait photograph signed, with musical quotation from Rhapsody in Blue. no place, [early 1930s]. 255 : 202 mm.
$ 16,311 / 14.000 €
(103516)
Superb signed head and shoulders portrait of Gershwin taken by Herman Mishkin, inscribed in English to „Lou Huston“ (the dedication “Mr” has been erased), and featuring an autograph musical quotation from his most celebrated work, Rhapsody in Blue — the theme of the Andantino moderato. - Accompanied by a typed letter signed by Gershwin’s secretary, addressed to the same correspondent, confirming that the composer would be pleased to autograph her two copies of his Song-Book (not included). - An exceptional association piece, combining a fine Mishkin portrait with one of Gershwin’s most iconic themes, capturing the elegance and vitality of the Jazz Age’s greatest composer.
Komponist, Pianist und Dirigent (1898-1937). Masch. Brief mit eigenh. Unterschrift „George Gershwin“. New York. 4to. 1 p. Gedr. Briefkopf.
$ 2,913 / 2.500 €
(81432)
An Percy A. Danielson, dem er mitteilt, dass „my new show will be coming to New York in early July [Show Girl]“ und sich gerne mit ihm treffen wird. - Beiliegt: Original-Photographie Gershwins im Halbprofil nach rechts. Photographie: Van Vechten.
American composer, pianist and painter whose compositions spanned both popular and classical genres (1898-1937). Autograph musical quotation, signed and inscribed "With Best wishes/ from your Composer/ George Gershwin". [Winter Garden Theatre, Drury Lane, London, Autumn 1924]. 60 : 92mm.
$ 7,573 / 6.500 €
(81618)
Autograph musical quotation, signed and inscribed "With Best wishes/ from your Composer/ George Gershwin", of two bars in E flat Major [the opening of 'Isn't it Wonderful', the chorus concluding the first act of his musical Primrose], on card, very light browning but overall in good and attractive condition. Together with a newspaper clipping and two postcards (small collection). 'BEST WISHES FROM YOUR COMPOSER' - the young George Gershwin doffs his cap to one of his leading ladies, quoting his song 'Isn't it Wonderful', dating from the same year as Rhapsody in Blue and Lady, Be Good. With this card is a newspaper cutting, datable to 1929, reporting the secret romance and wedding of 'West End leading lady' Margery Hicklin to Leon Heron, artist son of an Australian financier (two of whose postcards are also included).
In 1924 Miss Hicklin had starred as Joan in Gershwin's musical Primrose, opening at the Winter Garden Theatre, Drury Lane, on 11 September 1924 and running for 255 performances. Our card must date before the end of the year, prior to Gershwin's return to America for the Broadway premier of Lady, Be Good on 1 December 1924. (Recordings of several numbers sung by Miss Hicklin as Joan are extant.).
Komponist, Pianist und Dirigent (1898–1937). Ms. Brief mit eigenh. Unterschrift New York. 4to. 1 p. Gedr. Briefkopf. Leicht gebräunt.
$ 3,262 / 2.800 €
(88012)
An Harry Braun in New York: „Please excuse the lateness of this reply as I have been out of town so much that I’ve had no chance to look after my mail. I am sorry that I missed hearing you at Community Center but sometimes I should like to hear you play. I will keep your address and perhaps some evening you will come to my house and play for me. […]“
composer, pianist and conductor (1898-1937). Autograph Musical Manuscript Signed and Inscribed „George Gershwin“. no place, no date [Atlantic City, October 1927]. Oblong-4to. 1 p. (Gershwin’s autograph). 6 3/4x10 1/2 inches, faint marginal discoloration from prior matting, remnants of cello tape mounting at all edges verso.
$ 40,779 / 35.000 €
(91127)
Autograph Musical Manuscript Signed and Inscribed, "Sincerely," sketch of the opening 30 bars of "Funny Face" from the musical of the same name, in pencil. The music, notated on 5 printed staves. Title and description written in upper margin are in unknown hand. On verso are 17 bars from draft of a work entitled "3rd St and Sardinia[?]" for violin and viola notated in unknown hand. Autograph manuscripts signed by Gershwin are extremely rare.
composer, pianist and conductor (1898-1937). George Gershwin's Song-Book. New York, 1932. Small folio, publisher's morocco, joints starting, minor fading to spine, minor rubbing to all edges; minor scattered soiling to printed music for Gershwin's "Mischa, Yascha, Toscha, Sascha" as issued in pocket on rear pastedown; marked wear to original s.
$ 6,408 / 5.500 €
(91128)
First signed limited edition. Number 155 of 300 copies Signed by Gershwin and Alajalov.
composer, pianist and conductor (1898-1937). Autograph Musical Manuscript titled "Says You,". no place, c. 1931. 1 p., folio (330 x 268 mm). Pencil. Back side contains a ms. in a third hand.
$ 33,205 / 28.500 €
(91225)
Autograph Musical Manuscript titled "Says You,". With "G. Shirmer Inc., New York" imprint at lower right and "Style No. 2—12 staves" at lower left, toning at extremities, chips and closed tears at upper, right and lower margins, thumbsoiling. This leaf features sketches for two separate tunes. The first two staves feature a melody line for an unknown tune that may not have been realized further. The second tune, beginning on stave IV, is in 3/4 time, and is the melody line for "I'm About To Be A Mother" which was used in Of Thee I Sing.
It is also known as "Who Could Ask For Anything More (I'm About To Be A Mother)." It was not published as a stand-alone song, but can be found in the published vocal score for Of Thee I Sing, Act Two, Scene Three: "The Senate," starting on page 161. Of Thee I Sing debuted on Broadway in December of 1931 with a score by George and Ira Gershwin and a book by George Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. The show satirizes American politics and was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama..
composer, pianist and conductor (1898-1937). Typed Letter Signed ("George Gershwin") to Mr. Chidsey. New York. 4to (275 x 215 mm), 1 p., on George Gershwin 33 Riverside Drive letterhead.
$ 2,913 / 2.500 €
(91226)
Gershwin writes to Mr. Chidsey thanking him for a profile he compiled, and sending a check for 5 dollars for his trouble.
composer, pianist and conductor (1898-1937). Large Signature, "Sincerely / George Gershwin". no place. 1 page, oblong 8vo; remnants of mounting at all edges, horizontal folds with minor loss to paraph, pin hole at upper edge, staining along upper edge of advertisement.
$ 1,864 / 1.600 €
(93441)
Large Signature, "Sincerely / George Gershwin," on verso of leaflet advertising his appearance at "Ben Bernie's Theatrical Night in the College Inn" at 11 pm after his performance with the Chicago Symphony.
American composer and pianist (1898-1937). Typed letter signed. New York. 4to. ¾ p. Together with a portrait photograph (204 x 252 mm).
$ 5,243 / 4.500 €
(90273/BN59763)
To Byron H. Collins, sales manager at Steinway & Sons and an amateur pianist, concerning a two-piano arrangement of "Rhapsody in Blue" and other arrangements for two pianos: "I am very glad to know that you are having success with the two piano arrangement of the 'Rhapsody in Blue'. Unfortunately the list of two piano compositions is very limited. The only other of my compositions which is published for two pianos is my 'Concerto in F' - the second piano of course plays a reduced version of the orchestra part.
If I should write anything for two pianos in the near future I shall be very glad to let you know about it". - Composed in 1924, "Rhapsody in Blue" was Gershwin's first major work and remains his most famous composition. The "Concerto in F" mentioned in the letter followed in 1925. - The charming portrait photograph depicts Gershwin seated at the piano. - On stationery with printed letterhead. Traces of folds. With three minor tears to the margins, minimally stained, and lightly stained due to former framing..
American composer (1898-1937). Signed check. New York. American bank check, 164 x 70 mm. Made out and signed in ink. Includes a black and white photograph, 195 x 240 mm.
$ 1,398 / 1.200 €
(98083/BN63851)
A cheque signed by the great American composer George Gershwin, dated 1930 and made out to his mother, Rose Gershwin, for the amount of $200 (roughly $3,800 in modern terms). Signed on the verso by Rose Gershwin and Gershwin's father, Morris. Gershwin, in his short life and wildly energetic career, was one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, with a legacy including "Rhapsody in Blue", "Swanee", and the opera "Porgy and Bess". - The cheque gives George Gershwin's name and Riverside drive address, with usual cancels. Together with a charming vintage photograph depicting Gershwin with Ginger Rogers (1911-95), American singer and actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
sold
Ms. Brief (Durchschlag) mit eigenh. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
To the US consulate in Rotterdam, vouching for the painter Arthur Kaufmann (1888-1971), who had to flee from Germany: „My friend, Mr. Arthur Kaufman, is anxious to obtain a permanent visa for the United States. I consider him a first rate artist and would like to see him come to America to stay. I will be glad to assume financial responsibility in case of need [...]“. – Arthur Kaufmann emigrated to the USA the same year. – On stationary with printed letterhead; with certification note and receipt stamp of the consulate. – Slightly browned and stained.
Ms. Brief mit eigenh. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
To Irving E. Meshel, sending thanks for a birthday greeting and apologizing for the delay due to having been busy with a new production: „[...] For the past two months I have been in and out of New York working on a new production [probably „Cuban Overture or Pardon My English“] which is to have its premiere in two weeks [...]“. – On stationery with printed letterhead; in perfect condition.
Eigenh. Widmung mit Notenzeile und U. in: Isaac Goldberg: George Gershwin: A Study in American Music.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
Four bars from an unidentified work dedicated to Grace Morse: ""All the best George Gershwin Nov. 8, 1932". - Front spine broken, binding somewhat bumped; wrapper with larger defects.
2 ms. Briefe mit eigenh. U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
To Grace Morse of James B. Pinkerton & Son, concerning an invitation (7 June), and sending biographical material: "Mr. Isaac Goldberg is keeping me posted about what he is writing and I am sending as much material as I can think of for his articles. If you think it is necessary for me to meet Mr. Costain when Mr. Goldberg comes to New York I shall be glad to be at the meeting [...]" (2 Oct.). - On Gershwin's personalized stationery engraved at head "George Gershwin 33 Riverside Drive, New York City"; marginal splits to center horizontal folds; small damage to edges and slightly browned due to paper.
Portraitphotographie m. e. U. u. Notenzitat
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
George Gershwin (1898–1937), American composer. Portrait photograph with autogr. dedication and musical quotation signed. N. p., 25 Nov. 1931. 20 x 25 cm. Head-and-shoulders photograph of the young composer. With three bars from “Rhapsody in Blue”. Dedication: “For Marian – Wishing her everything nice. With admiration. George Gershwin”. Matted. Insignificant traces of wear. Very rare thus.