JEAN SIBELIUS and IRVING BERLIN Framed Gallery of History display (35x25), including Berlin's signature on a card attached to a musical biography; and a typed letter signed by Sibelius in 1953, politely declining to answer the question of whether Berlin is "America's greatest composer". TLS: "Jean Sibelius" in English, 1 page, 6x8½. Järvenpää, 1953 June 4. To Cyril Clemens, President, The International Mark Twain Society. In full: "Many thanks for your latest letter with your account of my life and career. It was very well written, indeed, with much ability and sympathy. Please accept my cordial thanks for it. The article about Irving Berlin I have read with much interest. His works are indeed performed here very often. If he is America's greatest composer, is of course difficult to say. America has many prominent composers by now. It is almost impossible to say such a thing about any composer. With all my kindest regards". Mid-horizontal fold, not at signature. Fine condition. In this letter to Cyril Clemens of the Mark Twain Society, JEAN SIBELIUS (1865-1957) expressed the difficulty of calling any one composer a country's "Greatest Composer". read more...

THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS: JOHN PHILLIPS, MICHELLE PHILLIPS, DENNIS DOHERTY and CASS ELLIOT The Mamas and Papas sign a document to Dunhill Records, Inc., Trousdale Music Publishers, Inc. and Wingate Music Corp. Rare Typed Document Signed: "John Phillips", "Michelle Gilliam Phillips", "Cass Elliot" and "Dennis Doherty", 3p, 8½x11, separate sheets. No place, 1967 September 28. In letter form to Dunhill Records, Inc., Trousdale Music Publishers, Inc. and Wingate Music Corp. A listing of seven points to confirm the "understanding and agreement between you and the undersigned....". In part: "Trousdale agrees to cancel as of October 1, 1966 the 10% collection charge which was deducted in the computation of our writers' royalties for the last half of 1966...We acknowledge and agree that mechanical royalties are payable by Dunhill and its parent and affiliated companies to Trousdale and Wingate on 90% of gross sales and that writers' royalties are payable by Trousdale and Wingate on the same 90% basis...You and we hereby read more...

PAUL MCCARTNEY The Beatles guitarist penned his signature on this Union Jack guitar after a 2006 concert in Columbus, Ohio Guitar Signed: "Paul McCartney" on the Union Jack pick guard. Squier Tele electric guitar by Fender, cream-colored body, with a red, white and blue pick guard patterned after the British flag. Accompanied by a black fabric, zippered carrying case with strap, and a letter of authenticity from the man who obtained the signature in person in October 2006, after a concert in Columbus, Ohio. Perhaps the most successful singer/composer in rock 'n roll history, Sir Paul McCartney (b. 1942) will always be remembered as a member of the Beatles, the band which took America by storm during its 1964 tour. The Beatles were one of many popular British bands part of the "British Invasion"; other bands who got major exposure in the United States include the Dave Clark Five, the Rolling Stones, and the Who. Before they broke up in 1970, the band released some of the greatest albums of all time, including three albums certified Diamond (at least 10x Platinum) by the RIAA: read more...

"MY ALBUM IS OUT AND A NEW SINGLE RECORD 'THREE CIG IN AN ASH-TRAY' THIS COMING MONDAY." PATSY CLINE Rare ALS: "Patsy", 5 pages, 5½x8¾, separate sheets. Winchester, Va., 1957 July 31. With original stamped envelope, sent by special delivery, addressed by Cline to: "Miss Treva Miller/Route #1/Telford, Tenn.", postmarked Winchester, Va., August 1, 1957. Signed at upper left: "Patsy Cline/Winc. Va." Torn right edge from opening. Creased and worn. Most probably penned by 24-year-old Patsy Cline from her 608 South Kent Street home to the President of her fan club. In part: "Well, I received your letter and I'm sorry I haven't written sooner, but I had to take a little rest & then I had to go to New York for the 'Big Beat' Show, which I don't know if you seen or not, last Fri. Then Aug 10th I'm on the Ozark Jubilee again. My Album is out and a new single record 'Three Cig In An Ash-Tray' this coming Monday. They are puting (sic) out an L.P. & and (sic) an E.P. you know 4 songs on a forty-five speed. So maybe we will have good luck of some sort of out of 13 songs. I sure hope so. Sure is a bad time of the year right now. read more...

JOHN LENNON and MAY PANG Framed Gallery of History display (46x30) featuring the t-shirt from Caribou Ranch studio given to Lennon when he recorded there with Elton John, accompanied by an authentication signed by Lennon's lover at the time, May Pang, and by a photo of Lennon and Pang together Comprises: (1) DS: "May Pang". 1 page, 8x5. No place, no date. In full: "From John Lennon's T-shirt collection, Caribou Ranch t-shirt. Given to John during his visit to Caribou Ranch Studio, when he and Elton John recorded 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'". Fine condition. (2) Extremely Rare Caribou Ranch T-shirt. Long-sleeve Collegiate Pacific, cream-colored, size 34-36. Slightly stained. Fine condition. From October 1973 until March 1975, JOHN LENNON (1940-1980) and MAY PANG lived, loved and worked together. During the Lennon-Yoko Ono separation and at Ono's instigation, their young, personal assistant became his constant companion. Deeply emotional and trying "to find himself", Lennon worked diligently to create the songs for his 1974 album Walls and Bridges, in which he dedicated one song to Ono and "Surprise Surprise" to his lover. read more...

WOODY GUTHRIE Folk singer and songwriter Woody Guthrie wrote this manuscript for a proposed series of albums with Asch Record Company, only one of which, Struggle: Documentary #1, was ever released. This rare document, signed with Guthrie's rank in the U. S. Army and his service number, chronicles a confrontation with a racist soldier and gives insight into this reluctant soldier's time in the Armed Forces during World War II! Autograph manuscript signed "Pvt. Woody W. Guthrie, #42234634." 2 pages, 7x10½, 1 sheet, front and verso, two columns. Written at "Scott Field", Aug. 12, 1945. Titled: "American Document/art number one". In part: "I met a soldier out on a rifle range down in Texas that was telling a gang of men, 'There's good and bad in every church and every race. They just got to be put in their place and made to stay in it. I say give every color his part of town and make him stay in it. My home town had a fight or a killing just about every few days. read more...

ANTONIN DVORAK A signed autograph note on a postcard, giving instructions to a music publisher in London, addressed in his hand and mailed from Prague in 1892. Both sides of the postcard can be viewed in the frame! Autograph Note Signed with two musical quotes: "A. Dvorak" in English, 5½x3¾. On verso of stamped postcard addressed by Dvorak to: "Novello & Ewer/ 1 Berners Street/London", postmarked Prague, March 24, 1892. In full: "I have no objection to it, when the two bars notes the Viola [c note] page 291. 207 are to be omitted and given to the Cello [two bars, two notes]". Czech composer Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904) is best known for his symphony in E minor, From the New World, composed in 1893. He is also noted for success in adapting folk music to serious romantic music. Dvorak was the Director of The National Conservatory of Music from 1892-1895. Note side is soiled, worn torn edges (all intact). Corners torn away affecting some writing and 1 musical quote. Address side is soiled and worn, edge flaws are framed over. Light stains. read more...

THE MAMAS AND THE PAPAS: JOHN PHILLIPS, MICHELLE PHILLIPS, DENNIS DOHERTY and CASS ELLIOT The Mamas and Papas sign a document requesting that the royalties from Dunhill Records, Inc. be paid. Rare Typed Document Signed: "John Phillips", "Michelle Phillips", "Cass Elliot" and "Dennis Doherty", 1p, 8½x11. No place, 1967 September 26. To Dunhill Records, Beverly Hills. In full: "The undersigned hereby irrevocably instruct and direct you to pay a sum equal to twenty (20%) per cent of any and all royalties payable to us from Dunhill Records, Inc., attributable to the sale of records embodying our performances on master recordings produced by Lou Adler, to Mr. Lou Adler at 800 Stone Canyon Road, Los Angeles, California 90024. All recording costs are to be borne solely by us." Adler's name and address are crossed out in black pen, most probably before this document was sold to a collector/dealer. The day after this contract, Adler resigned from Dunhill Records and was hired by read more...

ANTON RUBINSTEIN 4¼x6½ cabinet photo, inscribed and signed by him in 1893, a year before his death. He has also penned a 5-bar musical quotation on it. His signature on a photograph is very rare. Autograph Musical Quotation on Photograph inscribed and signed (in French): "A Madame la Comtesse Rosa Lacchis/Souvenir Ant. Rubinstein/Cadenabbia/1893". Sepia 4¼x6½. Above the inscription is his autograph musical quotation (5 measures), which he has marked "Apassionato". Anton Rubinstein (1829-1894, born in Wechwotynetz, Russia, now in Transnistria, Republic of Moldova) founded and directed the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music (1862-1867, 1887-1891). A virtuoso pianist and prolific composer, Rubinstein wrote several operas, including operas Feramors (1863), Dmitry Donskoy (1852) and Sibirskiye okhotniki (Siberian Huntmsen, 1854), six symphonies, five piano concertos for piano and numerous songs and chamber works. Adhesive and paper residue (previous mounting) on verso. Soiled and lightly foxed. read more...