Viafora's caricatures, produced in 1906-07 are rare and should rightly command a high price. The most expensive personality in the set is the caricature of Oscar Hammerstein I, impresario of the Manhattan Opera House, valued for its Judaic association. I've seen this postcard for sale in the $300 range. The second most important postcard in this set is the caricature of Enrico Caruso. The featured personalities all had some association with either the Manhattan Opera or the Metropolitan Opera during the time of the printing of these cards.
Note: Viafora's caricatures aren't as original as they might appear. In the case of the caricature of Josephine Jacoby, Viafora's drawing is taken directly from an existing photograph of the contralto as Siebel.
Last update: 16 May 2010 |
