Appraise my Signed Orchestral Score?

[nachtmusik]

Hi all,

Any ideas on the worth of a signed score that I own? It's the orchestral score to Edgar Stillman-Kelley's Symphony in Four Movements "Gulliver: His Voyage to Lilliput." It's signed by the composer with a birthday message written (in 1937) on the cover addressed to Joseph Maddy, founder of what is today Interlochen.

It was once a part of Interlochen's Music Library and has some markings and wear and tear.

I realize that if I want a formal appraisal someday I'll have to seek out a professional, but I'm just looking for some informal opinions by PS members. Is it a cool item to own but actually worthless? Worth $30? Worth $0? I got it for less than a dollar so if its even worth $5 I'd made a pretty sweet profit.

Thanks,

[j_menz]

In case you've never heard it:

He also wrote a number of pieces for piano. All recorded by Brian Kovach, and some of the scores are on IMSLP. The Alice in Wonderland Suite is quite charming. I'm not such a fan of this symphony, however.

As to price.. well he's pretty obscure so you'd need to be careful how you marketed it. If you found a mad keen collector of his work, or American symphonic music of the period, you might get a few hundred, otherwise not too much I would think.

I'm assuming it's an autograph, not the manuscript.

[Bob]

What if you donate it to a university/conservatory or some place that will take care of it and let everyone still have access to it? 

And then write it off on taxes as a donation.  Get paid that way.


I've never heard of the composer myself.  Youtube clip sounds interesting.

[awesom_o]

Wicked piece!

[Bob]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Stillman_Kelley


That symphony sounds like old-time movie music.  Very programmatic.


It's probably not worth much, but I'd say it's a little niche piece of history.  If you've got documentation on where it's been that would be a plus, for history and for the price too I'd imagine.

[j_menz]

You might find the items for sale here interesting, particularly this one.

IMO, they seem at the more optimistic end of asking prices, but the internet is a big place and there's one born every minute.

[Bob]

[thalbergmad]

I would be careful with valuations. Some dealers would tell you it is worthless, buy it from you for very little and then try and sell it for hundreds.

There is a score signed by Sorabji on e bay at the moment which is for sale @ $2500.

Thal

[ahinton]

I would be careful with valuations. Some dealers would tell you it is worthless, buy it from you for very little and then try and sell it for hundreds.

There is a score signed by Sorabji on e bay at the moment which is for sale @ $2500.

Is there? What's the link? I'd be astonished if it fetched the required amount, even if it's in perfect condition and is one of a small number of as yet unaccounted for special limited editions printed on handmade Whatman paper similar to that which the composer used for his mss.

Best,

Alistair

[visitor]

it is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. what is seen online and offered for auction live is not a good gauge unless it actually sells for such amount, until that point, it is just what someone is asking for it, not what it's worth (ie. what the market will bear).

V

[nachtmusik]

Wow, thank you all for such informative responses. Here's some more information about the score:

I'm assuming it's an autograph, not the manuscript.

It's definitely not the manuscript. It's also not an autograph similar to those in the Amazon link. I think it is what is considered a conductor's score of the whole symphony, about the width of a pencil.
The message reads:
 "To Joseph Maddy, a great man doing a great work. From his octogenarian friend Edgar Stillman-Kelley, New York, Jan (?) 1937"
It was once in a library so it has a library barcode and stamps on it and such.

What if you donate it to a university/conservatory or some place that will take care of it and let everyone still have access to it?

Do you think unis/conservatories would be interested? I think it makes sense for Interlochen to want it most, considering it was addressed to their founder, but they sold it in the first place so I'm not sure they'd want it back.

I do enjoy owning it, but it just sits hidden in a drawer most of the time. Maybe donation is the way to go, unless it will increase in value with more time?

[thalbergmad]

Is there? What's the link?

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Opus-Clavicembalisticum-Sorabji-Kaikhosru-Curwen-Sons/11807060728/bd

It seems to have vanished from e bay, but I think this is the same item listed on Abe Books.

Thal

[ahinton]

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Opus-Clavicembalisticum-Sorabji-Kaikhosru-Curwen-Sons/11807060728/bd

It seems to have vanished from e bay, but I think this is the same item listed on Abe Books.

Many thanks for this. So it is indeed one of the limited edition items. Given that its physical condition seems to be well less than perfect, that does seem a rather excessive price!

Best,

Alistair

[Bob]

For whatever amount you might make off it, I'd just give it to some place that will make it publicly available.  Get the most attention and use out of it that way.  As opposed to allowing someone to horde it away.  I've never heard of the guy until this thread.  It sounds like something someone might use in a thesis or dissertation though.  Maybe there's a way you can write it off.... Donate it and call it x-dollar value.