Collection of four items, each signed by a distinguished musician, including: Cole Porter (SP), Alan Jay Lerner (SP), Virgil Thomson (AMQS), and Howard Hanson (SP). In overall fine condition. Individual descriptions are as follows:
Cole Porter: Vintage matte-finish 4.75 x 7 head-and-shoulders photo, signed and inscribed in black ink, “For Mrs. Ed Smith, with best wishes, Cole Porter.” Matted and framed by Goodspeed’s Book Shop in Boston to an overall size of 10 x 12.5. Some scattered light creases, otherwise fine condition.
Alan Jay Lerner: Glossy 8 x 10 photo of Lerner sitting on a flight of stairs, signed in black felt tip. In fine condition, with a small crease to lower right corner.
Virgil Thomson: AMQS on an off-white 5 x 3 card. Thomson pens three bars of music and lyrics from ‘Four Saints in Three Acts,’ identified at the top, “from 4 Sts in 3 Acts by Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thomson,” and signed and inscribed, “Very cordially to Harold Merry, Virgil Thomson, New York, 3 March 1981.” In fine condition.
Howard Hanson: Choice vintage matte-finish 8.5 x 11 head-and-shoulders photo of Hanson looking quite stern, signed in the lower border in fountain pen, “With kindest regards—Howard Hanson,” adding a brief musical quote labeled, “‘Merry Mount,’ Prelude.” In fine condition. RR Auction COA.
