I have an interesting Duo-Art roll, roll number 6550, "Polonaise in
A-flat, Op. 53". What is interesting about this roll is the outside
of the box, the end labels and the roll itself say that it was played
by Chopin, something that would be impossible in reality as he died
before 1850.

The box end lists the title. Below that it says "Hoffmann" but below
that it says "Played by Frederic Francois Chopin".

It is interesting because the various rollographies and the Duo-Art
book-catalog of 1927 list it as played by Hoffmann. The Duo-Art lists
the roll number as 6550-5. Somewhere online I saw another version of
6550, but I am unable to locate it again.

I am attaching photos. Maybe someone can shed some light on this.

Thanks,
Gary Goldsmith 

 [ box label
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/23/02/19/230219_111641_Duo_Chopin_2[1].jpg 
 [ leader
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/23/02/19/230219_111641_Duo_Chopin_3[1].jpg 
 [ pianist name on box
 [ https://www.mmdigest.com/Attachments/23/02/19/230219_111641_Duo_chopin_4[1].jpg 

 [ The Duo-Art rollography by Charles Davis Smith reproduces the data
 [ published in the Duo-Art monthly bulletins, which says that roll 6550
 [ or 6550-5 (price code appended), played by Hofmann, was announced in
 [ the bulletin of 9/22 (September 1922). Perhaps your roll was part of
 [ a later, private edition collection of "Hofmann compositions" given
 [ as a joke to a big fan of Hofmann's.
 [
 [ "Polonaise in A-flat" is performed by Josef Hofmann (rather briskly)
 [ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkAIxzH4WpA -- Robbie