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NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's landmark auction of the Collection of Stephen Sondheim on June 18, 2024 drew a worldwide audience of fans and collectors who sent prices soaring throughout the sale, and all 454 lots offered were sold. Enthusiastic bidders competing in the crowded saleroom, via the telephones, and on the Internet vied for memorabilia, furnishings, antique puzzles and more from Mr. Sondheim’s Manhattan townhouse and his country home in Roxbury, Connecticut.
Gold Records for West Side Story
Highlighting the memorabilia in the sale were Stephen Sondheim’s two Gold Records for his work as lyricist on West Side Story. Determined bidders drove his Gold Record for the soundtrack of the 1961 film adaptation of West Side Story to an exceptional $44,800. His Gold Record for the 1957 original Broadway cast recording realized a strong $28,800.
Sondheim’s Collection of Thesauruses
Two lots of thesauruses drew loud gasps from the audience as the first lot of four volumes soared in a few bids to a staggering $25,600. The second lot of thesauruses, dictionaries and crossword books drew equal gasps when it sold for $25,600 to the opening bid.
Manuscript Musical Quotations
Three manuscript musical quotations signed by Sondheim far surpassed their estimates. A quotation from Into the Woods with the poignant lyric, "Careful the things you say, Children will listen..." sold for $25,600. Another with the lyric, "Into the woods, it's time to go/I hate to leave, I have to, though...” realized $16,640. From Passion, a quotation with the touching lyric "Loving you is not a choice, it's who I am..." fetched $14,080.
Stationery & Pencils
A stack of Stephen Sondheim's personalized Crane’s stationery together with a signed spiral notebook sold for a startling $15,360. Drawing gasps of disbelief from the audience was a lot of three boxes of Sondheim’s beloved Blackwing pencils, circa 1940s-50s, that sold for a staggering $6,400. In a 2005 interview, Sondheim stated, “I use Blackwing pencils. Blackwings. They don’t make ’em anymore, and luckily, I bought a lot of boxes of ’em. They’re very soft lead. They’re not round, so they don’t fall off the table, and they have removable erasers, which unfortunately dry out."
Scroll down to view a selection of auction highlights. All prices include the Buyer's Premium.
Stephen Sondheim is celebrated as the most innovative and influential composer and lyricist in modern musical theater. His musical compositions broke new ground in terms of complexity, structure and thematic depth, challenging the traditional conventions of the genre. He had a remarkable ability to craft lyrics that not only advanced the plot, but also revealed profound insights into the characters' motivations and inner conflicts. And he generously mentored countless composers, lyricists and performers, passing on his knowledge and passion for musical theater to future generations.
Early Years
Stephen Joshua Sondheim was born in New York in 1930, the only child of dress manufacturer Herbert Sondheim and his wife, Etta Janet Fox. He spent his early years on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and, following his parents’ divorce when he was ten, on a farm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from George School, a private Quaker prep school in Bucks County, and went on to study music at Williams College, where he graduated magna cum laude and was awarded the Hutchinson Prize for Composition.
Around the time of his parents’ divorce, Sondheim formed a close friendship with James Hammerstein, son of lyricist and playwright Oscar Hammerstein II, whose family were neighbors in Bucks County. Oscar Hammerstein became Sondheim's surrogate father and lifelong mentor, influencing him profoundly and developing his love of musical theater. Sondheim once asked Hammerstein to evaluate a musical that Sondheim wrote while at George School, By George. They spent the rest of the day critiquing the musical. Sondheim later said, "In that afternoon I learned more about songwriting and the musical theater than most people learn in a lifetime."
West Side Story
Sondheim's big career break came at the young age of 26 writing lyrics for the 1957 Broadway musical, West Side Story, working with composer Leonard Bernstein. Despite his desire to write both music and lyrics, he accepted the position as lyricist after Hammerstein counseled him, "Look, you have a chance to work with very gifted professionals on a show that sounds interesting, and you could always write your own music eventually. My advice would be to take the job." Directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, with a book by Arthur Laurents, West Side Story ran for 732 performances and garnered six Tony Award nominations. The 1961 film adaptation won ten Academy Awards.
Gypsy
In 1959, Laurents and Robbins approached Sondheim for Gypsy, a musical version of Gypsy Rose Lee's memoir, starring Ethel Merman. Sondheim was again disappointed about being solely a lyricist, but Hammerstein urged him to embrace the opportunity, highlighting the valuable experience crafting a vehicle for a star. With music by Jule Styne and a book by Arthur Laurents, Gypsy ran for 702 performances and has been described by numerous critics as America’s greatest musical.
Music & Lyrics by Sondheim
The first Broadway production for which Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics was A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which opened in 1962 and ran for 964 performances, the longest Broadway run of any show for which Sondheim wrote both music and lyrics. It was followed by an array of iconic works, including Anyone Can Whistle (1964), Company (1970), Follies (1971), A Little Night Music (1973), The Frogs (1974), Pacific Overtures (1976), Sweeney Todd (1979), Merrily We Roll Along (1981), Sunday in the Park with George (1984), Into the Woods (1987), Assassins (1990) and Passion (1994). His film music credits include Stavisky (1974), Reds (1981) and Dick Tracy (1990). With Anthony Perkins, he co-wrote the film The Last of Sheila (1973).
Awards & Honors
Over the course of his prolific career, Stephen Sondheim was recognized with numerous awards and honors, including a Pulitzer Prize for Drama (Sunday in the Park with George), an Academy Award for Best Song, eight Tony Awards including a 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award, eight Grammys, fifteen Drama Desk Awards, and five Laurence Olivier Awards, including a 2011 Olivier Special Award. In 1993, Sondheim received the Kennedy Center Honors for Lifetime Achievement, and in 2015 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor. In 2010, Broadway’s Henry Miller’s Theater was renamed in his honor.
Stephen Sondheim served on the Council of the Dramatists Guild, the National Association of Playwrights, Composers and Lyricists, and was its president from 1973 to 1981. In 1983, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and in 1990, he became the first visiting professor of Contemporary Theater at Oxford University.
Puzzle Enthusiast
Stephen Sondheim is also revered among word puzzle enthusiasts for introducing Americans to British-style cryptic crosswords, which are more a “test of wits” than a mere display of “tirelessly esoteric knowledge,” as he wrote in 1968. His crossword puzzles for New York magazine in 1968 and 1969 were influential in popularizing the cryptic genre in this country. He credited his love of both puzzles and musicals to Hammerstein’s early mentorship. Introduced by Hammerstein to “Puns & Anagrams” in The New York Times as a young teen, Sondheim created his own and submitted it to the Times. “They sent it back saying, ‘We’re very impressed, it’s very perspicacious,’ which was a word I had to look up,” he recalled.
Legacy
Stephen Sondheim's influence on the trajectory of musical theater cannot be overstated. He leaves a legacy defined by his pioneering spirit, lyrical brilliance and dedication to the advancement of the form. His works have become enduring classics, inspiring the next generation of composers and lyricists to explore new creative possibilities and push the boundaries of musical theater.
Top image: © The Al Hirschfeld Foundation. www.AlHirschfeldFoundation.org
Stephen Sondheim's Gold Record for the soundtrack to West Side Story
Lot 267 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
WEST SIDE STORY Gold record presented to Stephen Sondheim for the soundtrack to West Side Story. Circa 1961. A gold Columbia Masterworks record of ... read more
Stephen Sondheim's Gold Record for the Broadway Cast Recording of West Side Story
Lot 266 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
WEST SIDE STORY Gold record presented to Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway Cast Recording of West Side Story. Circa 1961. A gold Columbia Masterworks ... read more
A manuscript musical quotation from Into the Woods
Lot 303 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
STEPHEN SONDHEIM A manuscript musical quotation from Into the Woods. A manuscript musical quotation in silver ink on a large sheet signed "Stephen ... read more
Four thesauruses used by Stephen Sondheim
Lot 278 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
STEPHEN SONDHEIM Four editions of Roget's International Thesaurus. Four volumes a stated first printing June 1946, this without a jacket and with ... read more
Group of dictionaries, thesauruses and books on crossword puzzles
Lot 279 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
STEPHEN SONDHEIM A group of thirteen dictionaries, thesauruses and books on crossword puzzles. Thirteen volumes, including: Burges Johnson's New ... read more
The first royalty check received by Stephen Sondheim at Williams College in 1948
Lot 263 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
STEPHEN SONDHEIM The first check received by Stephen Sondheim for a published song. A printed check of Broadcast Music Inc., in the amount of 74 ... read more
A manuscript musical quotation from Into the Woods
Lot 294 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
STEPHEN SONDHEIM A manuscript musical quotation from Into the Woods. A manuscript musical quotation in gold ink on a large sheet signed "Stephen ... read more
An artist's three-dimensional caricature of Sweeney Todd characters
Lot 284 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET Two three-dimensional character displays. Two painted three-dimensional character displays, the first ... read more
A stack of Stephen Sondheim's stationery and a signed spiral notebook
Lot 277 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
STEPHEN SONDHEIM A stack of Stephen Sondheim's personalized stationery. A stack of Mr. Sondheim's fine stationery, comprising 8 1/2 x 11 inch ... read more
The vocal score of Gypsy, inscribed to Stephen Sondheim by Jule Styne
Lot 269 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
GYPSY The vocal score of Gypsy, inscribed to Stephen Sondheim by Jule Styne. A reprint of the vocal score for Gyspy inscribed on the title page: "Dec. ... read more
A manuscript musical quotation from Passion
Lot 288 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
STEPHEN SONDHEIM A manuscript musical quotation from Passion. A manuscript musical quotation in purple ink on a large sheet signed "Stephen Sondheim." ... read more
Eight Caricatures of Stephen Sondheim
Lot 237 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
Comprising original art and printed examples. Includes: A pen and ink caricature of Mr. Sondheim and Madonna, likely circa 1990, by John Minnion and ... read more
Two volumes of T.S. Eliot poems annotated by Stephen Sondheim
Lot 256 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
[BOOKS] ELIOT, T.S. Two volumes with annotations by Stephen Sondheim. Comprising: Four Quartets. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1943. An early printing ... read more
Large Portrait of Stephen Sondheim After the Al Hirschfeld Original
Lot 241 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
A white acrylic paint portrait of Stephen Sondheim writing at the piano, a cigarette dangling from his lips, painted on a large panel of plexiglass ... read more
Three boxes of rare vintage Blackwing pencils
Lot 275 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
BLACKWING PENCILS Three boxes of vintage Blackwing 602 pencils. Circa 1940s-50s. Three blue boxes printed with "Eberhard ... read more
A handmade ceramic chess set with pieces based on characters from Sondheim musicals
Lot 311 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
A ceramic chess set handmade specially for Stephen Sondheim. The set includes 32 ceramic chess pieces based on characters from Stephen Sondheim's ... read more
A Keith Haring puzzle invitation to the 1985 "Party of Life"
Lot 325 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
[PUZZLE] KEITH HARING. Puzzle invitation from Keith Haring's Second Annual "Party of Life," held at the Palladium Nightclub on May 22nd, 1985. [New ... read more
An early London travel game board
Lot 343 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
[GAME BOARD] The Panorama of London, or A Day's Journey round the Metropolis, An Amusing and Instructive Game. London: John Harris, 1809. 23 x 23 ... read more
A rare transformation card deck from the Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company
Lot 409 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
[PLAYING CARDS - TRANSFORMATION DECK] Harlequin Tobacco Insert Transformation Deck, Series 2. [New York]: Kinney Brothers Tobacco Company, 1889. ... read more
A homemade set of early Hollywood-themed cards given to Sondheim for his birthday
Lot 453 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
[CARD GAME - A HOMEMADE GIFT FOR STEPHEN SONDHEIM] A group of approximately 102 homemade cards with pictures of early Hollywood stars, apparently an ... read more
Three cribbage boards and a brass-mounted Bézique counting board
Lot 339 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
[CARD GAMES - CRIBBAGE AND BÉZIQUE] Three Cribbage boards, comprising, a large board with brass pins on a carved wood base, and two smaller engraved ... read more
Fabergé Enameled Silver-Gilt and Wood Covered Box
Lot 86 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
Workmaster Karl Armfelt, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917 In the form of a billiards table, the hinged top enameled to simulate green baize, with three ... read more
Victorian Architectural Inlaid Mahogany Tabletop Cabinet
Lot 204 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
The hinged top surmounted with turned finials above a case with a central drop panel opening to reveal an interior fitted with nine short and one ... read more
Lot 169 (The Collection of Stephen Sondheim, Jun 18, 2024)
Estate / Collection: The Collection of Stephen Sondheim
Height 13 1/2 inches, width 11 1/2 inches, depth 12 inches.