Giuseppe Verdi - 1870-1911

Lot of 7 Historic Opera Librettos (Giuseppe Verdi) – Original Ricordi & Lucca Editions (1870-1911)
Description of the Lot:
Splendid and rare collection of 7 historic opera librettos dedicated to Verdi’s masterpieces, published between the 19th and early 20th centuries by the most prestigious Italian musical publishing houses. This collection not only testifies to the graphical and editorial evolution of the era, but also encapsulates a fascinating local Piedmont historical value (with ties to the cities of Turin and Cuneo) and an intact flavor of times past. The lot comprises the following titles, meticulously analyzed through the period fiscal and dry stamps:

Luisa Miller (R. Stabilimento Ricordi, August 1870) – 19th-century edition, bearing the circular dry stamp of fiscal control “T.R. 70 (8)”.
I Masnadieri (Stabilimento Musicale di F. Lucca, July 1871) – Rare specimen printed by the historic publisher Francesco Lucca (with the notation 7-71), fierce rival of Ricordi before the 1888 merger. Title page with splendid Liberty-era wood engraving.
Un Ballo in Maschera (R. Stabilimento Tito di Gio. Ricordi, Carnival 1870-71) – Piece of exceptional historical-local interest. Special edition printed specifically for performances at the Teatro Civico di Cuneo, containing the official list and the printed names of all the singers and the opera company of that particular season.
Rigoletto (R. Stabilimento Musicale Ricordi, January 1874) – Very rare issue bearing the crisp dry stamp “1-1874”. The front page bears the note of the London “Temporary Office” (Great Castle Street), testimony to Ricordi’s very early expansion into the United Kingdom.
La Forza del Destino (G. Ricordi & C., circa 1895-1912) – Economical popular edition priced at “Cent. 50” with the Ars et Labor insignia. Bears the ownership signature of the original owner (Delfina).
La Traviata (G. Ricordi & C., circa 1902-1910) – Edition after the Ricordi-Lucca merger. Contains a splendid internal Liberty-style advertisement page promoting sheet music in francs. Also signed by Delfina.
Aida (G. Ricordi & C., January 1911) – Edition with dry stamp “1 (11)” and correct publisher price of Cent. 25. On the character list page appears the rare and beautiful purple ink stamp of the historic “Stabilimento Musicale Luigi Damaso - Torino (Piazza Castello 23)”, where the librettos were purchased. At the top is the pencil signature of Delfina’s husband (Franceschi).
Technical Details:
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Publishers: R. Stabilimento Ricordi / Francesco Lucca / G. Ricordi & C.
Period: 1870 to 1911
Language: Italian
Format: Classic theater pocket edition
Condition:
The small volumes are structurally complete and genuine, never restored. Being original paper objects over a century old (the oldest surpassing 155 years), they show the typical and fascinating signs of time: natural page yellowing, foxing, slight wear or small creases on the paper covers, and some period ownership signatures that enrich their history and family provenance. Overall, the condition is to be considered very good for this type of item.
Notes for bidders / Terms of Sale:
As this is antique and original era paper material (1870-1911), the librettos are described with maximum accuracy and documented through a rich photo gallery, which is an integral part of the description. Small imperfections, foxing, or signs of wear related to age and theatrical use are to be considered normal authenticity characteristics and not defects. The volumes are sold as-is (seen and liked in the images). Please examine the photographic details carefully before bidding. For any questions or additional photos, I remain at your disposal before the auction closes. Happy bidding to all!”