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Mr Black's Violins: The extraordinary obsession of Gerald Segelman by Andrew Hooker

3.00 kg
Standard
Cozio Publishing
216
978-0-9764431-3-1
2009
Boston
$225.00

A reclusive English millionaire who made his fortune in a line of cinemas and cafés, Gerald Segelman amassed one of the largest and most impressive collections of violins ever put together. Few people, even insiders in London’s violin scene, knew the extent of Segelman’s collection until after his death in 1992 when some details of a legal case involving his estate were reported to the press.

A tribute to Segelman’s lifelong fascination with violins, this book tells the story of his collecting obsession, featuring colour photos and descriptions of 45 of the instruments he once owned. Distinctly different from other books about violin collections, the author includes previously unpublished information about some famous makers and takes a less reverential tone than is conventional, daring to point out imperfections and to question some earlier attributions. Essential reading.

Included are examples by Antonio Stradivari, Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù, Carlo Bergonzi, Nicolò Amati, Pietro Guarneri ‘of Venice’, G. P. Maggini, G. B. Guadagnini, J. B. Vuillaume, Lorenzo Storioni, and many other makers. 


"This is an exemplary violin book. . .the amazing story of Gerald Segelman, one of the great collectors of recent times. . . Hooker has given this astounding collection a worth celebration." (John Dilworth's review in The Strad)


". . .[most readers] will wish to buy this splendidly produced and edited tome. . ." (review by Brian Harvey in the BMVA newsletter [Spring, 2010])

The standard edition of the book, limited to fifteen hundred numbered copies, is 216 pages and comes with a sturdy slipcase. Both the book and slipcase are bound in fine cloth.

A Deluxe Edition of the book, limited to 75 numbered copies, is bound in burgundy goatskin.

A $30 shipping & handling fee will be added to all orders.

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