Old and Classic Music from J & J Lubrano Music Antiquarians
- by Michael Stillman
A dapper Enrico Caruso.
Item 12 is a response to an autograph seeker from one of the Woodstock musicians. No, not that Woodstock. This is from the village that gave the festival its name. None of those musicians would have explained their delay in responding by saying they were “working very hard, conducting the orchestra at Chautauqua, N.Y.” The writer of this note was Georges Barrere, a notable flautist of the first half of the 20th century. Barrere grew up and was trained in France. However, early in the century, he was invited to play for the New York Symphony Orchestra. He came; he stayed. Barrere was the founder of the New York Flute Club. His letter is dated September 10, 1936. $125.
Now for a little name dropping – item 25 is a letter from Italian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini circa 1830. Bellini had been a child prodigy and was now a respected opera composer who, like Mozart, would die at way too early an age. Bellini had received a letter from “Rubini,” most likely Italian tenor Giovanni Rubini. The letter informed him that Rosina Turina, sister of Bellini's mistress Giuditta Turina, was very ill, and might well be dead by the time the letter was received. Bellini writes his friend Giuseppe Pasta not to mention it to his mistress, since her mother is coming with the news and he does not want to upset her. Giuseppe Pasta was the husband of the renown singer Giuditta Pasta, generally considered one of the greatest opera singers ever. $5,800.
Item 45 is a photograph of another great singer, Enrico Caruso. It is inscribed, signed, and dated, November 7, (1904?). The legend looks most dapper, with his cane, hat, and striped suit. It comes with a 78 rpm recording of Caruso singing Osolemio. $1,100.
Sotheby's Fine Books & Manuscripts Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: Balthus, Emily Brontë. Wuthering Heights, New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1993. 6,600 USD.
Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. Complete Works, Philadelphia & London: J.B. Lippincott Company & Chapman & Hall, LD, 1850. Limited Edition set of 30 volumes. 7,500 USD.
Sotheby’s: John Lennon, Yoko Ono. Handwritten Letter from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to their Chauffer. 1971. 32,500 USD.
Sotheby’s: Winston Churchill. First edition of War Speeches, Cassell and Company, Ltd., 1941. Set of 7 volumes. 5,500 USD.
Sotheby’s: Andy Warhol, Julia Warhola. Holy Cats First Edition, Signed by Andy Warhol. 1954. 30,000 USD.
Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26:
HAMILTON, Sir William (1730-1803) - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: [Pietro Fabris], 1776, 1779. € 30.000 - 50.000
Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: [MORTIER] - BLAEU, Joannes (1596-1673) - Het Nieuw Stede Boek van Italie. Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier, 1704-1705. € 15.000 - 25.000
Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: TULLIO D'ALBISOLA (1899-1971) - Bruno MUNARI (1907-1998) - L'Anguria lirica (lungo poema passionale). Roma e Savona: Edizioni Futuriste di Poesia, senza data [ma 1933?]. € 20.000 - 30.000
Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26: IL MANOSCRITTO RITROVATO DI IPPOLITA MARIA SFORZA. TITO LIVIO - Ab Urbe Condita. Prima Decade. Manoscritto miniato su pergamena, metà XV secolo. € 280.000 - 350.000
Kestenbaum & Company Sale 115:
The Library of the late Dr. Michael D. Paul of St. John’s, Newfoundland
Featuring: Travel, Atlases, Natural History, Science, Medicine and Fine Color-Plate Books
Thursday, 5th March, 2026
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (AMERICA). COLLOT, GEORGES H. VICTOR. Voyage dans l'Amérique Septentrionale…, Paris, 1826 (but printed 1804/5). $60,000 to $90,000.
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (INCUNABLE). SCHEDEL, HARTMANN. Liber Chronicarum. Nuremberg, Anton Koberger, 1493. $40,000 to $60,000.
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (ENTOMOLOGY). MERIAN, MARIA SIBYLLA. Dissertatio de Generatione et Metamorphosibus Insectorum Surinamensium, Amsterdam, 1719. $40,000 to $60,000.
Kestenbaum & Company Sale 115: The Library of the late Dr. Michael D. Paul of St. John’s, Newfoundland Featuring: Travel, Atlases, Natural History, Science, Medicine and Fine Color-Plate Books Thursday, 5th March, 2026
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (ATLAS). BLAEU, WILLEM JANZOON. <>Le Flambeau de la Navigation…, Amsterdam, 1620. $40,000 to $60,000.
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (ATLAS). MERCATOR, GERARD. L'Atlas ou Méditations Cosmographiques de la fabrique du monde et Figure diceluy, Amsterdam, 1613. $30,000 to $50,000.
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (ORNITHOLOGY). GOULD, JOHN. The Birds of Great Britain, London, (1862-)73. First edition. $30,000 to $50,000.
Kestenbaum & Company Sale 115: The Library of the late Dr. Michael D. Paul of St. John’s, Newfoundland Featuring: Travel, Atlases, Natural History, Science, Medicine and Fine Color-Plate Books Thursday, 5th March, 2026
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (ATLAS). BLAEU, WILLEM & JOHANNES. Appendix Theatri A. Ortelii et Atlantis G. Mercatoris…, Amsterdam, 1631. $30,000 to $50,000.
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (ASTRONOMY). DOPPELMAYR, JOHANN GABRIEL. Atlas Coelestis in quo Mundus Spectabilis, Nuremberg, 1742. $12,000 to $18,000.
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (BOTANY). WEINNMANN, JOHANN WILHELM. Duidelyke Vertoning, Eeniger Duizend in alle vier waerelds deelen wassende…, Amsterdam, 1739-48. $20,000 to $30,000.
Kestenbaum & Company Sale 115: The Library of the late Dr. Michael D. Paul of St. John’s, Newfoundland Featuring: Travel, Atlases, Natural History, Science, Medicine and Fine Color-Plate Books Thursday, 5th March, 2026
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (ENGLAND). KIP, JOHANNES. Nouveau Theatre de la Grande Bretagne, London, 1714-16. $20,000 to $30,000.
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (ASTRONOMY). DOPPELMAYR, JOHANN GABRIEL. Atlas Coelestis in quo Mundus Spectabilis, Nuremberg, 1742. $12,000 to $18,000.
Kestenbaum, Mar. 5: (ARCHITECTURE). PIRANESI, GIOVANNI. (Miscellaneous). Prima parte di architetture e prospettive, (Paris, circa 1800). $12,000 to $18,000.
![Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26:
HAMILTON, Sir William (1730-1803) - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: [Pietro Fabris], 1776, 1779. € 30.000 - 50.000](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/0372eeb9-97e1-47b2-baca-b3287d4704ee.jpg "Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26:
HAMILTON, Sir William (1730-1803) - Campi Phlegraei. Napoli: [Pietro Fabris], 1776, 1779. € 30.000 - 50.000")
![<b>Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26:</b> [MORTIER] - BLAEU, Joannes (1596-1673) - Het Nieuw Stede Boek van Italie. Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier, 1704-1705. € 15.000 - 25.000](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8f9ce440-b420-4407-8293-eb8e1b38ca19.jpg "<b>Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26:</b> [MORTIER] - BLAEU, Joannes (1596-1673) - Het Nieuw Stede Boek van Italie. Amsterdam: Pieter Mortier, 1704-1705. € 15.000 - 25.000")
![<b>Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26:</b> TULLIO D'ALBISOLA (1899-1971) - Bruno MUNARI (1907-1998) - L'Anguria lirica (lungo poema passionale). Roma e Savona: Edizioni Futuriste di Poesia, senza data [ma 1933?]. € 20.000 - 30.000](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/71bb9667-5d66-4aa8-96a2-9880c74a7a26.jpg "<b>Il Ponte, Feb. 25-26:</b> TULLIO D'ALBISOLA (1899-1971) - Bruno MUNARI (1907-1998) - L'Anguria lirica (lungo poema passionale). Roma e Savona: Edizioni Futuriste di Poesia, senza data [ma 1933?]. € 20.000 - 30.000")
