Auction News Network

Mendelssohn Manuscript Sells For Almost $700,000

Towards the end of conductor Arturo Toscanini’s life, he received a rather special gift from the pianist Rudolf Serkin. It was a complete autograph score to Felix Mendelssohn’s Melusine overture, which the composer considered one of his finest works. Last night the 46 page manuscript sold at Sotheby’s London for $694,824, which was a bit more than it’s low estimate. All told, the auction of Toscanini’s manuscripts, letters and memorabilia realized just over $2m.

“Casablanca” Piano At Sotheby’s

It’s the most famous prop from the one of the most celebrated films of all time. The upright piano from the 1942 classic “Casablanca”—the one on which Sam plays “As Time Goes By” for Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart—will be sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York on December 14th, when it’s expected to sell for as much as $1.2m.

Update: the “Casablanca” piano sold for about half its high estimate,  or $602,500.

Smashed Guitar Offers Nirvana

The guitar Kurt Cobain smashed at the end of a Nirvana music video will be for sale at a Christie’s London auction. They think somebody might bid $40,000. The musicians weren’t spend thrifts, they bought the Zen-On bass at a pawn shop just for the musical mayhem.  The video, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was a smashing success.

Toscanini Archive At Sotheby’s

In the first half of the 20^th century, conductor Arthuro Toscanini variously headed La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the New York Philharmonic. It was his lengthy stint as director of the NBC Symphony Orchestra (1937-54), however, that made him a household name in the United States. Following his death in 1957, most of his archive went to the music division of the New York Public Library. On November 28^th in London, Sotheby’s will offer what remains, which includes a handwritten score of a Mendelssohn overture, estimated at $643,000-$965,000.

Rare Apple 1 Leads German Sale

Back in June, an Apple 1, one of only six known working examples of the first effort by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, sold at auction in New York for $374,500. Auction Team Breker, based in Koeln, Germany, has located another, which they will offer at a sale of Technical Antiques & Fine Toys on November 24th. The computer, estimated at $156,000-$260,000, is just one of many remarkable scientific devices at the auction, which also features a number of  iconic inventions, including the first patented copying press, the first serially produced adding machine, a 1943 Enigma coding machine, and an 1892 prototype phonograph by Swiss film maker and inventor Casimir Sivan.

Ultra-Rare Les Paul Sunbursts At Heritage

For collectors of electric guitars, examples of the Les Paul Gibson Sunburst made between 1958 and 1960 are considered particular plums. Only four left-handed guitars were produced in these years, and of the two produced in 1959, the location of just one is known. It will be the highlight at Heritage’s Vintage Guitar sale on October 26^th in Beverly Hills, where it’s expected to sell for more than $125,000.

Rare Bows Highlight Christie’s Musical Instruments Sale

Fine vintage violins typically lead sales of fine musical instruments. That’s the case at Christie’s auction on August 26^th, when a Guarneri produced in Mantua circa 1690 will be the top estimated lot at $250,000-$350,000. Some of the most interesting items, however, will be rare violin bows. At the top of the list is a gold and tortoiseshell mounted bow by Francois Xavier Tourte. Made in Paris circo 1820-1825, it’s estimated with $150,000-$250,000.

$38.3m For Famed Milhous Collection

Over the years, there may have been more valuable collections than the one assembled by the Milhous brothers, but there were few more idiosyncratic. Its core consisted of vintage automobiles and mechanical musical instruments, but it also included such rarities as a full-blown carousel with 42 animals, and a 1920 peanut and popcorn machine once pulled by two horses. This past weekend it all sold at an auction joint hosted by RM and Sotheby’s for $38.3m. Highest price item: a 1912 Oldsmobile Limited Five Touring classic that fetched $3.3m, a new world auction record for an Oldsmobile.

A Carousel & Vintage Cars: Milhous Collection To Sell

Bob & Paul Milhous only wanted one object in an Austrian collection. It was a Weber Maestro orchestrion, a mechanical device that produces the sounds of a 24-piece orchestra. To close the deal, the brothers had to buy the entire 260-item collection. Through the years, they’ve added to it, so that their assortment of antique cars, mechanical musical devices, clocks and curiosities now totals over 1200 items. In late February, RM and Sotheby’s will sell it all for what’s expected to be more than $40m.

A 1937 TV & An 1891 Edison Phonograph

Surprising as it may seem, television existed before World War II. Among the earliest sets was a 1937 “Marconiphone,” released in time for viewing the Coronation of George III. The set was a behemoth—a cabinet console mirror-lid receiver with a 12-inch screen, a turntable for records, and a three-band radio. Bonhams  will offer TV in its Fine Mechanical Music & Scientific Instruments auction on November 9^th, when it’s expected to sell for $11,000-$14,500.

Christie’s Tunes Fine Instruments Sale

A 17^th century violoncello leads Christie’s sale of musical instruments later this week. Estimated at $200,000-$300,000, the vintage fiddle, circa 1690, is the work of Milanese craftsman Giovanni Grancino, who around the same time also produced the next highest valued item in the auction, a violin for which Christie’s anticipates a price of $150,000-$250,000.

Update: The Grancino instruments failed to find a buyer at the auction, where the highest selling lot was the Hermann Hauser guitar, which realized $152,500, slightly above its high estimate.

$936,438 For Richard Gere Guitar Collection

The vintage guitar and amplifier collection of “Pretty Woman” star Richard Gere has made a pretty penny. Today it sold at Christie’s in New York for $936,438, close to the $1m that had been expected. Top seller was a 1960 Gibson Les Paul that brought in $98,500, exceeding its $90,000 high estimate. Only 4 percent of the 107 lots failed to sell.

Christie’s To Sell Richard Gere’s Guitars

While it’s hardly his day job, actor Richard Gere has been collecting American vintage guitars through the years. Now he says he’s consigning 100 of them to Christie’s, who will sell them in an auction on October 11. His intention, he announced, is to donate the estimated $1m in proceeds to support a variety of humanitarian causes around the world.

Bonhams To Sell Actor John Forsythe’s Estate

For much of last 50 years, the late actor John Forsythe seemed ubiquitous, starring in three long-running television series (“Batchelor Father,” “Charlie’s Angels,” and “Dynasty”) as well as a variety of other television and film projects. Bonhams & Butterfields will sell his estate in late September, which includes such items as his mahogany Steinway Baby Grand piano.

Imagine: A Guitar Played By Lennon & Dylan

Is there a guitar with a more stellar rock provenance? A 1967 Gibson J-160 E Sunburst acoustic-electric instrument formerly owned by both John Lennon and Bob Dylan is coming to auction later this month. Lennon used the guitar during the late 60’s, then gave it to Dylan, who played it until Lennon’s death.  Heritage is expecting over $200,000 for the instrument at the July 29^th auction.