August 2021 Catalogue

Publicity Photograph Inscribed By Nat “King” Cole 48. COLE, Nathaniel Adams. Photograph inscribed. New York, 1945. Resin-coated silver gelatin photograph, measuring 7 by 8-1/2 inches; framed, entire piece measures 10 by 12-1/2 inches. $1200. Publicity photograph of a youthful and sharply dressed Cole holding a microphone, inscribed: “To Macie, Best Wishes, Nat King Cole.” Cole founded the King Cole Trio in 1936, and rose to stardomwith “It’sOnly aPaperMoon” (1945), “The Christmas Song” (1947), “Nature Boy” (1948), “Mona Lisa” (1949) and “Too Young” (1951). The velvet baritone recorded over 900 tunes. Two small closed tears to bottom edge of photograph, ballpoint signature bold. Warmly Inscribed By Paul Robeson 49. ROBESON, Paul. Photograph inscribed. No place, no date. Photograph, measuring 3 by 5 inches; handsomely matted and framed, entire piece measures 9 by 11 inches. $1800. Original photograph of Paul Robeson, warmly inscribed: “Every good wish, Paul Robeson.” “One of the major performing artists of the 20th century, [Robeson’s] achievementsasastageactor,moviestar, and singer are individually outstanding but collectively astounding. He was easily the most influential black entertainer of his day” (ANB). A fine inscribed portrait, handsomely framed. Extremely Large Engraved Print Of John D. Rockefeller, Signed By Him 50. ROCKEFELLER, John D. Engraved print signed. No place, no date. Engraved print, measuring 13-1/2 by 17 inches, mounted on cardstock; matted and framed, entire piece measures 16 by 19 inches. $3500. Very large folio-size portrait of JohnD. Rockefeller, engraved by Timothy Cole after a painting by John Singer Sargent, signed in pencil by Rockefeller. This portrait by John Singer Sargent is iconic. Rockefeller’s son “managed to convince Sargent to paint JohnD. Rockefeller during an extended visit to America in 1916-17, even though by that point the artist was refusing portrait commissions because he wished to focus on watercolors rather than his ‘old line of ladies portraiture’... Sargent was quite impressed with John D. Rockefeller and remarked upon ‘his expression of benevolence’ and compared him to ‘an old medieval saint with a great deal of intellect’” (National Trust for Historic Preservation). The original engraving was accomplished circa 1921; the date of this particular print is unknown, but is obviously before Rockefeller’s death in 1937. Minor chipping and a few small spots to marginal edges. A handsome signed item. F r a m e d ! 2 0 2 1 B a u m a n R a r e B o o k s 41 40