Magnificent Mechanical Musical Instruments and Automata
at Bonhams, New York, October 7 2010

Dear MMD, With great pleasure, I announce the forthcoming sale which
will be held at Bonhams, 580 Madison Avenue, New York, on October 7th,
2010.  This auction is set to be an exceptional event, showcasing
a vast number of pieces which have never come onto the market before,
and no doubt will not do so again.  As this sale is being held after
the MBSI and auction, those wishing to extend their stay in this part
of the country now have the perfect excuse to book a stay in New York
and enjoy this sale.

This sale contains just 41 lots, but each and every one of those 41
pieces are the very best this field has to offer.  The vetting procedure
was very strict and so everybody can be safe in the knowledge that this
sale will be the best for years to come.

Presented in two sections, the first offers select pieces from around
the world, from a number of different private vendors.  From the tiny
musical wonders of top-grade gold cased Vertu to the glorious
interchangeable boxes featuring butterfly-cut veneers of the rarest
woods, the pieces here stretch from the very early 1800s through to the
introduction of the phonograph.

But the section which all of us look forward to seeing, and hearing
most of all, is the second section -- property from the collection of
Mark Yaffe.

Orchestrions come up rarely, even in the best sales of mechanical
music, but here is offered a selection totalling no fewer than 10
examples, some of which unique, all of which famous.  Highlights
include the only Helios III/39 in the classical case known, the Seeburg
J with Capitol art glass front and of course, the one and only Hupfeld
Phonoliszt Model B, made for the 1911 Turin Exhibition.  There is simply
too much to mention here on this post, and whilst I would like to list
and mention everything, it is probably best to take a look at the
online catalog of the sale, which is available to view right now.

To get to the online catalog, please use this link:

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/WService=wslive_pub/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=usa&screen=Catalogue&iSaleNo=18556 

We have also produced a short video introducing the sale, which is
currently running on-loop on television screens in our salerooms around
the world.  The link for this video is:

http://www.bonhams.com/eur/moviemechanicalmusic/ 

But the paperback catalog is the main guide to this sale and one which
should be obtained by all.  The 41 lots are presented within a book
totalling 112 pages, fully illustrated by our top photographer.  Those
who wish to obtain this pre-reference edition paperback catalog may buy
a copy on the day (at the very reasonable fee of just $35), or you can
order one by quoting sale number 18556 and contacting us on:

tel. +1 (800) 223 2854, ext. 3550 (US and Canadian clients)
tel. +44 (0) 1666 502 200 (UK and remaining worldwide clients)

Condition report requests are available, however until I get over to
New York from London on the 3rd October, those wishing to receive
reports before the viewing starts may like to contact my friend and
colleague, Jonathan Snellenburg, at the New York office on
jonathan.snellenberg@bonhams.com.geentroep [delete ".geentroep" to reply]

Bonhams are very grateful for the consultant services of Q. David
Bowers, Ken Goldman and Art Reblitz for their outstanding submissions
for the production of the catalog.

Whether you attend this view and auction to look or to buy, we look very
much forward to welcoming you at Bonhams, New York.  See you there on
October 7th for this once in a life-time event.  For further information
about this sale, please contact me directly by telephone in UK at
+44 20 7393 3984 or by email, laurence.fisher@bonhams.com.geentroep
[delete ".geentroep" to reply].

Best regards,
Laurence Fisher - Senior Specialist, Mechanical Music and Technical
Apparatus, Bonham's
http://www.bonhams.com/