Description:

Europe, Italy, northwest coast, Tuscany, Viareggio, ca. 1922 CE. Letter penned and autographed by Giacomo Puccini (Italian, 1858-1924). A fascinating, handwritten letter penned by the famous Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, who is regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi. Dated June 22nd, 1922, Puccini asks his friend Atillo Bisio to supply him with a small but fast motor-boat with a FIAT engine, asking how much it would cost ("...Se il presto non e excessivo aver piacere di possedere una sua imbarcazione..."), and reminding him of the "Wolverin[e]," the first such boat that he ever bought from him. A wonderful glimpse into the personal life of a larger-than-life man, famous for his operas La Boheme, Tosca, and Madame Butterfly, among others. Size of paper: 10.5" L x 8" W (26.7 cm x 20.3 cm); of protective folder: 12.25" L x 9.5" W (31.1 cm x 24.1 cm)

When backlit, the paper reveals a watermark of a right-facing griffin rampant in a shield with the word "Draconis" below. According to the Bernstein database, paper with this watermark would have been made between 1901 and 1910 near Avezzano, Italy. It is additionally printed with "Viareggio / Via Buonarroti" which was the location of the Villa Puccini where Puccini moved in 1922.

Provenance: private Redwood City, California, USA collection; ex-R&R Enterprises, Bedford, New Hampshire, USA, Catalog 243, Item 604; ex-Sotheby's, London, United Kingdom, "Music, Continental and Russian Books and Manuscripts,) May 28, 2015, lot 279

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#183465

  • Condition: Printed stationery of Via Buonarroti, Viareggio with watermark of right-facing griffin rampant in a shield and "Draconis." Some folding and creasing to corners, as well as creasing with slight splitting at fold and light stains in areas. Otherwise, intact and in overall very good condition with nice preservation of ink. Accompanied by Certificate of Authenticity from R&R Enterprises. Set in clear protective film and a folding, hardcover library case.

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