The Italian composer signs this touching sentiment on a photograph mount. Photograph Mount inscribed and signed: "Alla bella & gentile Signorina / Marietta Stern, / ricordo / Giacomo Puccini / Roma Gen: 1918" Photograph of Puccini by Vuillemenot Montibone, 6½ x 8½, 11¾ x 17 photograph and mount overall. Puccini was in Rome preparing for the European debut, on January 11, 1919, of his opera, Il trittico. This was a trilogy of three one-act operas including Il tabarro, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. Photograph is creased and toned. Photograph mount creased. Framed to an overall size of 24½ x 27. Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), the greatest Italian opera composer of his time. He wrote a number of operas, including his three most famous works, La Bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly, while living at Torre Del Lago, the home he had purchased in 1891. Puccini and his family lived at Torre Del Lago until 1921, and the home became a museum after the death of Puccini's wife in 1930. Light partial postmark to the right of Puccini's head.

Amazing collection of signed photographs of the early Superman cast, framed to an overall size of 38¼ x 41½. Signed photograph of Reeves in character as Clark Kent. Photograph signed: "George Reeves". B/w, 9x7. Best known for playing the "Man of Steel" on film and on television, George Reeves (1914-1959), born George Bessolo, made his film debut in 1939. Reeves played Stuart Tarleton, one of the Scarlett O'Hara's hopeful beaus, in David O. Selznick's Civil War epic, Gone With the Wind. Making an excellent impression in that role, in 1940, Reeves was cast in 17 films, including Knute Rockne, All American, Virginia City, The Fighting 69th, 'Til We Meet Again, Pony Express Days and Meet the Fleet. Shown with his girlfriend, played by Jan Clayton, and her unwelcoming father (Grant Mitchell), Father is a Prince (1940). Reeves' career took a fateful turn when he was cast as Superman/Clark Kent in 1951's Superman and the Mole Men, a role he reprised in the 1953-1957 television series. Reeves' death by gunshot wound on June 16, 1959, was officially ruled a suicide, but suspicions of murder have persisted. Signature has light contrast, otherwise fine condition.

He has signed these autograph music and lyrics, the last four measures of his religious cantata, The Virgin, and dated it himself (1880) Autograph Musical Quotation signed: "J. Massenet/Paris 17-8-80", 1p, 10¾x3½. Inscribed by Massenet in French: "To Miss Eugenie Hautier/souvenir with respect". Massenet has identified the four long measures as the last measures of "Holy Friday", Third Scene of his religious cantata The Virgin scored by Massenet for four voices, one for each long measure, identified by Massenet as "Marie Salome", "Marie Magdalena", "Jean" and "Simon", with words penned in his hand. French composer Jules Massenet (1842-1912) made his name with the comic opera Don César de Bazan (1872). Other operas followed, including Manon (1884), considered by many to be his masterpiece, Le Cid (1885) and Werther (1892). In the 3rd Part of The Virgin, "Good Friday", Mary-Salomé, Mary-Magdeleine, John and Simon have sought refuge in the Virgin's home. They try to comfort Christ's mother. In the distance one can hear the threatening voices of the people and the soldiers.

George Burns' smoking jacket, size Medium, style 0783. Red and black silk with black pinstriped belt. Label, 2¾ inches by ¾ inches, of fashion designer Fernando Sanchez sewn in. George Burns  was a well-known cigar smoker. In 1994, Arthur Marx, son of Groucho, interviewed Burns for "Cigar Aficionado Magazine" and asked him why he started smoking cigars. Burns' answer: "I smoked them because I wanted people to think I was doing well. When they saw me walking down the street smoking a cigar, they'd say, 'hey, that 14-year-old kid must be going places.' Of course, it's also a good prop on the stage. That's why so many performers, including your father, use them. When you can't think of what you are supposed to say next, you take a puff on your cigar until you do think of your next line…If I'd taken my doctor's advice and quit smoking when he advised me to, I wouldn't have lived to go to his funeral." Burns died in 1996 at age 100. Fine condition.

Right handprint the composer which he has signed and dated in 1925! Handprint signed: "Richard Strauss/21.4.25" in ink, 6½x8¼. Handprint of Strauss' right hand. Stamped: "M. Raschig's Handarchiv." Strauss (1864-1949, born Richard Georg Strauss in Munich, Germany) was Court Conductor at Munich (1894-1898) and Chief Conductor of the Berlin Court Opera (1898-1918). As a composer, Strauss was regarded as the leader of the New Romantic school. Among his works were 15 operas, including Salome (1905), Elektra (1909) and Der Rosenkavalier (1911), as well as ballets, symphonies, concertos and about 200 songs. Berlin palm reader MARIANNE RASCHIG, who also wrote a scientific book on the art of palm reading, put together a collection of over 2,500 handprints from 1924 to 1935. Lightly creased and soiled, irregular left edge. File notes in blank areas (unknown hand). Otherwise, fine condition.

Both sign their names on this album leaf containing several bars of music drawn by Grieg Autograph Musical Quotation signed: "Edvard Grieg" 1p, 6x3½. Leipzig, 1891. Three bars of music labeled: "Andante" at top by EDVARD GRIEG (1843-1907). Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist who learned how to play at the age of six and went on the attend Leipzig Conservatory. His works include music for Ibsen's Peer Gynt (1876) as well as many choral, orchestral, and chamber pieces. On verso is an Autograph Note signed: "Schumann Heink" in German, New York, 1902 January. From the late 1880s to the early 1900s, the exceptional contralto voice of ERNESTINE SCHUMANN HEINK (1861-1936) was heard frequently at concerts and festivals throughout Europe. She was primarily known for her interpretations of Wagner and Strauss. In 1905, she took out U.S. naturalization papers. Her German-language recording of "Silent Night" earned sales for Victor Red Seal records unmatched by any other artist. When the U.S. entered World War I, Schumann-Heink put herself wholeheartedly behind the American war effort, promoting Liberty Bonds and entertaining troops, despite having a brother in command of an Austrian warship and a son in the German navy.

Four legendary actors draw caricatures of themselves and sign them in ink, completing this incredible framed collection Comprises: 1) Self-caricature signed: "Ernest Borgnine" 7½x6½ visible. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition. 2) Self-caricature signed: "John Gielgud/ 1985". 2¾x4½. Fine condition. 3) Self-caricature signed: "Good Wishes/ Alec Guinness/ 1981". 5½x8. Fine condition. 4) Self-caricature signed: "Ch". 5¼x8. Fine condition. These four actors - two Brits, two Americans - dominated the screen and stage on both sides of the Atlantic for decades. JOHN GIELGUD (1904-2000) was born a generation before the other three. He performed on Broadway and London stages for many years, eventually becoming an accomplished theatre director as well. He was the fourth person to win at least one individual Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award. ALEC GUINNESS (1914-2000), much like Gielgud, earned acclaim on the stage and transitioned to film and television right after WWII. One of his most famous screen roles is that of Obi-Wan Kenobi in the first trilogy of Star Wars films.

11x14 sepia photo of Fields in the stage version of his skit, "The Caledonian Express," signed and inscribed to author and publisher Arthur Samuels. Field's inscription includes one of his famous lines from the stage and screen skit: "You'll ha to git oot/o' the compartment." Oversized Photograph inscribed and signed: "To My friend/Arthur -you'll ha to git oot/o' the compartment,/from his friend/Bill Fields/Oct 11 - 1928." Sepia, 11x14. Remarkable studio portrait inscribed to Arthur Samuels, who was involved with the publishing of "Ladies Home Journal" and authored Poppy. Half-view left profile by Hal Phype. Fields has quoted one of his lines from the Earl Carroll's Vanities sketch "The Caledonian Express" (1928), in which the legendary comedian played four Scottish characters trying to remove an uninvited guest from a train compartment. Fields repeated the skit in the film Follow the Boys (1945), but that time played the intruder. Samuels' Poppy made Fields a Broadway star in 1923, and he reprised the role in two film versions. Surface creases at upper right corner with fraying at that corner, else fine, handsome and rare.

Carbon Typed Document Signed: "George Gershwin" and "Ira Gershwin", 1p, 8½x13. Los Angeles, California, 1936 September 30. In part: "GEORGE GERSHWIN and IRA GERSHWIN each, being first duly sworn, deposes and says: That he is one of the parties to the written agreement dated July 29, 1936, executed by and between RKO STUDIOS, INC. and GEORGE GERSHWIN and IRA GERSHWIN, under the terms and conditions of which the said George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin are employed by the said RKO Studios, Inc. and under the terms and conditions of which the compensation payable to the said George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin is paid to them jointly, without any allocation between them. That under the terms and conditions of an agreement existing between the said George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin all compensation received by them pursuant to the terms and conditions of said contract, has been and will be divided and allocated between them in the ratio of sixty per cent (60%) to the said George Gershwin and forty per cent (40%) to the said Ira Gershwin…That this affidavit is made and delivered to the said RKO Studios, Inc.…"

His handwritten notes on ruled notebook paper for a high school history test, framed with his phototo an overall size of 34x24. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, 1 page, 7¾x10 ruled notebook paper. No place, but Lubbock, Texas, no year. Holly has written an outline of four points, likely to study for his history class. Headed: "Questions on American History/Chapter I". In full: "1. List some of the contributions of the following ancient peoples to our life today./a. Phoenicians/b. Greeks/c. Romans/2. State briefly how the following contributed to the discovery of America./a. The Renaissance/b. The Crusades/c. Marco Polo and other travelers/d. The invention of printing/e. the commercial revolution/3. Spanish Explorers - Date - Scene of Ex. Import/a. Balboa/b. Magellan/c. Cortes/d. Pizarro/e. Ponce de Leon/4. French Explorers - Date - Scene of Ex. - Import./a Verrazano/b. Cartier/c. Champlain". During his high school years in Lubbock, Texas, Buddy did his history homework, as evidenced by this manuscript, on which Holly has written a "1" at the upper right corner. But Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley (1936-1959) was no ordinary high school student.

The two offer an inducement for the film Serpico (1973) to proceed Document Signed: "Al Pacino" and "Martin Bregman" both in black ink, 1p, 8½x11. No place, July 24, 1972. In letter form to Produzione DeLaurentiis International Manufacturing Company, Rome, Italy. Begins: "Gentlemen". In full: "Reference is made to the Memorandum Agreement between you and CHAL Productions, Inc. and Artists Entertainment Complex, Inc. dated July 24, 1972, relating to the production of a motion picture based on the life of Frank Serpico and the book SERPICO written by Peter Maas. In consideration of the execution of said Agreement by you and as additional inducement to you to execute the same, the undersigned, Al Pacino and Martin Bergman, hereby expressly accept and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of said Memorandum Agreement applicable to them. The undersigned shall be directly liable hereunder without your first being required to pursue and/or exhaust any remedy within your power and you shall not be required to proceed against CHAL Productions, Inc. and Artists Entertainment Complex, Inc. prior to proceeding against the undersigned. Very truly yours".

In this rare letter in untranslated Italian, composer Giuseppe Verdi wrote in 1892 that his business affairs would delay his visit to Montecatini, Italy. With original mailing envelope and book illustration with facsimile signature. Autograph letter signed "G Verdi". 1 page, 4 ½ x 7, 1 page folded, front and verso. Milan, Italy, July 3, 1892. Written in Italian, untranslated. In summary: Verdi wrote this letter to a Signor Galimberti to say that he hoped to come to Montecatini, Italy, but the weight of his business affairs forced him to postpone his intended arrival from the following morning to a Wednesday. He added that Galimberti should nevertheless hold the apartment available for that day. Lightly toned and soiled. Lighten around edges, possibly from frame. Tape remnants on verso. Folded once and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition. Accompanied by: 1) Unsigned autograph envelope addressed in Verdi's hand. Postmarked July 4, 1892, with blue ink stamp of the Grand Hôtel Milan in Milan, Italy on verso. Addressed to Signor Galimberti, Locanda Maggiore, Montecatini, Italy. One orange-and-white Italian stamp affixed. Lightly toned, soiled and creased. Normal postal stamps, which touch address. Lightened around edges, possibly from frame. Tape remnants on verso.