Duke Ellington And Count Basie By Roy Schatt: Vintage 8x10 Gelatin Silver Print With Studio Stamps

The Image (Recto): This stunning, high-contrast photograph captures a deeply candid moment between two titans of American music. Ellington, seen from the profile, leans in closely to speak with a joyous, smiling Count Basie. Schatt utilized natural light and unobtrusive camera equipment—such as the twin-lens reflex Rolleiflex—to capture his subjects in vulnerable, unstaged moments of camaraderie. The background reveals the unmistakable canvas tents that served as the labyrinthine backstage dressing rooms at the Newport Jazz Festival, confirming Schatt's elite, unfettered access to the artists' private sanctuaries. The left margin of the image bears Schatt's signature, cementing its status as an elite collector's piece.

Provenance & Authentication (Verso): The reverse of this photograph guarantees its historical provenance, bearing the exact authentication markers demanded by elite collectors and institutional archives. The verso features the authentic proprietary studio rubber wetstamps reading: "ROY SCHATT / 149 E. 33rd N.Y. 10016 • MU. 3-9491 / PHOTOGRAPHER" alongside the "ROY SCHATT ©" limitation. Handwritten archival notations explicitly identifying the subjects as "Duke Ellington & Count Basie" along with the catalog number "402" are also present, ensuring the print was formally cataloged. (Please note: There is some residual mounting adhesive along the left edge of the verso, which does not affect the recto image).

CONDITION PROTOCOL:

Please refer to the generously-sized scans/photos for details regarding the condition and content of each item. Unless otherwise stated, the images provided are accurate representations of the item you are bidding on. Please let me know if you see anything that is inaccurate or has errors in our listings, so we can correct it. If you have any questions about an item before bidding or purchasing, please don't hesitate to ask.

Listing Terms & Conditions: Archival Physical Asset Transfer:

1. Transfer of Physical Ownership: This listing is for the purchase of the physical, vintage photographic print described herein. Ownership transfer is governed by the First Sale Doctrine (17 U.S.C. § 109).

2. Intellectual Property Exclusion: Acquisition of this physical print does NOT constitute a transfer of copyright, licensing rights, or intellectual property. All rights to the underlying image remain the property of the original creator, their estate, or designated rights-holders.

3. Limitation of Use: This item is sold as a "Collector’s Artifact" for private display only. Any reproduction, digitization, or commercial exploitation of the image by the buyer is strictly prohibited and may constitute copyright infringement.

4. Provenance & Condition: This item is a vintage "found" artifact. It is sold "As-Is." The Seller makes no claims regarding the history of the print prior to acquisition beyond what is visible on the physical medium (e.g., studio stamps, verso notations).

5. Right of Publicity: If the subject of the photograph is an identifiable individual, the buyer assumes all liability regarding "Rights of Publicity" should the buyer attempt to use the image for commercial or promotional purposes.