Gioacchino Rossini sends an autograph letter in Italian to send an article. Autograph Letter Signed: "Rossini" in Italian, 1p, 4¼ x 5½. No place, no date. To Severini. In full: "Please send, within today, the portion of the opera La Fata Bianca [The White Fairy] which has the tenor's role, to Mr. Curioni. All is well." Curioni was the Italian tenor, Alberico Curioni.By the time he was 18, Gioacchino Rossini (1792-1868) had written his first opera. The Italian composer is best known for his comic opera, The Barber of Seville, and his grand opera, William Tell, with its famous overture. The "Overture" to the four-act William Tell became one of the most familiar of all operatic works when it was used to open the radio and television show, The Lone Ranger. Guillame Tell was first performed in Paris in 1829. The Italian composer, the leading representative of the Bel Canto School of Opera and one of the last masters of opera buffa, spent his later years in Paris and his native Italy. Lightly stained, lightly creased, with folds. Light ink transfer from a different letter. Ink smudging present on some letters. Framed to an overall size of 32½ x 24½.

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.

The famous actor is shown in a still from the 1961 film One-Eyed Jacks, which was also used as the cover for the Radio Times Magazine, in 1983! Photograph Signed: "Marlon Brando" in black felt tip. 8x10. Color. Marlon Brando (1924-2004) was nominated for the 1989 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor (A Dry White Season) and for seven Academy Awards for Best Actor: 1951 (A Streetcar Named Desire), 1952 (Viva Zapata!), 1953 (Julius Caesar), 1954 (On the Waterfront), 1957 (Sayonara), 1972 (The Godfather) and 1973 (Last Tango in Paris); he won in 1954 and 1972. He refused to accept the award for the title role in The Godfather because he believed that the U.S. and Hollywood were discriminating against the Indian people. He is frequently cited as the greatest and most influential actor of all time. Lightly soiled on verso. Corners slightly rounded. Otherwise, fine condition.

SIR WALTER SCOTT 1823 promissory note signed by Sir Walter Scott highlights relationship with publisher James Ballantyne. Promissory Note signed: "Walter Scott", 8x3¼. Edinburgh, 1823 May 3. The great Scottish poet and novelist agrees to repay his publisher in twelve months. In full: "Twelve months after date, pay to our order, at our Printing Office here, eight hundred and seventy five pounds sterling, for value received. James Ballantyne & Co." Sir WALTER SCOTT (1771-1832), considered to be the father of the historical novel, had first met JAMES BALLANTYNE (1772-1833) in 1783 while attending Kelso Grammar School. In 1799, Ballantyne privately printed the two pamphlets with which Scott began his writing career, An Apology for Tales of Terror and The Eve of St. John, a ballad, beginning a literary and business partnership that would last throughout Scott's lifetime. The greatest success of James Ballantyne and Co. came in 1808, when Scott's second narrative poem, Marmion, was printed by Ballantyne for publisher Archibald Constable (Scott's first narrative poem, The Lay of the Last Minstral, had been published by Constable in 1805). Scott's romantic work, Rob Roy (1818) was also published by James Ballantyne and Co.

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.

ALS: "G. Verdi", 1p, 4½x3½. Sant'Agate, 1889 November 18. To his close friend, Maria Massari Waldmann. In Italian, partially translated. In part: "Thank you, my dear Maria, and thanks to your kind Duke for the affectionate remembrance...Greetings to the Duke and a warm handshake...." On February 8, 1872, mezzo-soprano MARIA MASSARI WALDMANN starred as Amneris in the Milan premiere of Aida under Verdi's direction. At the time of this letter, Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) spent part of the year at the Villa Verdi at St. Agata diBusseto, close to his birthplace in Le Roncole, and part in Genoa in an apartment in the Palazzo Doria. Inscription on verso of Verdi's letter, in Italian: "To my dear/friend Margherita/from/Maria Massari/Zavaglia/Ferrara, 22-1-905". There is a collection of nearly 100 letters from Verdi to Waldmann in La Biblioteca del Conservatorio "G.B. Martini" in Bologna, Italy. Lightly stained. Overall, fine condition.

Original self-caricatures drawn by these legendary comedians. Collection comprised of 7 pieces of signed original artwork that includes: 1.) Original Artwork signed “George/Jessel”. 5x7. Fine condition. George Jessel (1898-1981, born in New York City), who became known as the "Toastmaster General of the United States" for his frequent role as Master of Ceremonies at entertainment and political gatherings, appeared in vaudeville (he was a partner of Eddie Cantor at age 11) and on Broadway before having a radio show, That's My Kid. 2.) Original Artwork signed “M. Kahn”. 5½ x 9. 2 horizontal creases, otherwise fine condition. Operatically trained, Madeline Kahn (1942-1999) achieved her greatest successes in manic comedy roles, earning Best Supporting Actress nominations for Paper Moon (1973) and Blazing Saddles (1974). She garnered a Golden Globe nomination for her short-lived TV sitcom, Oh, Madeline! (1983) and won a Tony for her performance in The Sisters Rosenzweig (1992). 3.) Original Artwork signed “BETTE”. 5¼ x 8¼. Fine condition. Midler is a Grammy and Emmy Award-winning singer, and stage and film actress known for her vibrant personality on and offstage.

Her rare, handwritten letter to family members, discussing her health and family finances. signed as "Missie." ALS: "Affect Missie/xxx/xxx", 2¼ pages, 6x9½. Cambridge, Maryland, no year October 11. On letterhead of  The Dixon to "Dear Fern And Sister". In full, with original spelling and grammar: "Yours rec. Jimmie is here with me. Will forclose the Mortgage on the Mag[illegible] farm. Will turn it all over to Calvin Harrington for I am to much in to bother & I would love to have A Lawyer to make out the necessary papers so I will just turn it all over to him. But I will stay here & rest for A while. We have hot & cold water, plenty clean linen & food not bad here. Want to visit the Andrews before leaving. Jimmie brought my breakfast up this morning my heart is bad, but I will rest more after he goes south, And maby he will also. She  has climbed the stairs 10 times to day & it is 11 Am now. He loves you. Bonnie, Irene, and Bessie, far more then his own flesh & blood, and would do more for either of you, of this I am sure. And I love all of my flesh & blood no matter what has happened in the past.…"

Early portrait signed by the legendary vaudeville performer and American comedian. Photograph signed: "W. C. Fields" B/w, 4½x6½. W. C. Fields (1879-1946) began entertaining as an amusement park juggler at the age of fourteen. He was a vaudeville headliner before he was twenty and toured Europe in 1901, giving a command performance at Buckingham Palace. His Broadway debut in The Ham Tree (1905) was followed by appearances in the Ziegfeld Follies (1915-1921) and in George White's Scandals (1922). Fields starred in Poppy on Broadway (1923) and the next year made his first film, Janice Meredith (1924). Fields' style, verbal rather than visual, and his irascible con-man philosophy made him a favorite, especially with the advent of sound, where his raspy voice provided the final touch to his comedy. He starred in movies including My Little Chickadee (1940) and Never Give a Sucker an Even Break (1941). Nobody contributed more wry quotations ("Anyone who hates children and animals can't be all bad.") to American folklore. Signature in poor contrast but legible. Light silvering. Surface creases. Corners worn and chipped. Ink stamp on verso. Multiple pencil marks (unknown hand) on verso. Finger print impressions at top right. Otherwise, fine condition.

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.

Partly printed DS: "Humphrey Bogart," 1p, 8-3/8x11. No place, 1949 March 3. To the News Syndicate Co., Inc., 220 East 42nd Street, New York (Daily News building). A printed "Release Form" letter. In full: "In consideration of the publicity to be given to me and which may arise herefrom, my consent is hereby irrevocably given to you, your assignees and licensees, and to the Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate, Inc., and its subscribers and licensees, to use my name, picture, or portrait, in publications for editorial or promotional purposes, excluding, however, commercial advertising." Bogart's films include High Sierra, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, Key Largo, and The African Queen for which he was awarded the 1951 Academy Award for Best Actor. Fold at lower left blank corner, small (nail-head size) stain at lower right blank corner, else fine.

This fantastic (and huge) 33¾x63¾ color poster is a promotion for TNT's 1999 spectacular An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash, and is signed by Johnny Cash and three members of his backing bands the Tennessee Two and Tennessee Three - Marshall Grant, W. S. Holland and Bob Wootton - along with Kix Brook and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn, Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Emmy Lou Harris, Marty Stuart, gospel singer Wilson Waters, Jr. and host Jon Voight. Poster signed "W S Holland", "Kix/Brooks", "Marshall/Grant", "Ronnie Dunn/'99", "Bob Wootton", "Marty Stuart", "Wilson Waters Jr", "E L Harris", "Kris Kristofferson", "Johnny Cash", "Jon Voight" and "Lyle Lovett", all in silver ink. With six unidentified signatures. Color, 33¾x63¾, mounted on foamboard. Promotional poster for An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash, originally broadcast on TNT on April 18, 1999. ©1999 Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. An All-Star Tribute to Johnny Cash was just that - a tribute to the Grammy-winning Man in Black by musical acts like Bruce Springsteen, Trisha Yearwood, U2, Cash's wife June Carter Cash, Sheryl Crow, the Dave Matthews Band, Kris Kristofferson, the Mavericks, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Chris Isaak, Wyclef Jean and others.