Astrud Gilberto (1940-2023) was a Brazilian singer famous for popularizing bossa nova on the international scene. The great moment of her career began in 1964, when she recorded The Girl from Ipanema on the album Getz/Gilberto.

How is the market for your autographs by Astrud Gilberto?

The song became a huge international hit, reaching the Billboard Top 5 and winning the Grammy for Record of the Year in 1965. This release instantly made her the leading female voice of bossa nova outside of Brazil.

In the following years, Astrud released successful solo albums, such as The Shadow of Your Smile (1965) and Look to the Rainbow (1966), consolidating her career in the United States and Europe. During the 1970s, she expanded her repertoire, mixing bossa nova with jazz and pop, while remaining relevant in the music scene. From the 1980s onwards, her exposure began to diminish, and she eventually withdrew from the music industry.

Astrud Gilberto 's autographed documents are quite rare. Unlike other bossa nova artists, Astrud avoided the spotlight and had a distant relationship with fame. She was not very active in events or meetings where she would sign autographs. In the 1980s, she practically withdrew from the music industry, which further reduced the production of materials signed by her . In addition, she lived most of her life in the US and had less direct contact with fans in Brazil.

However, her career and life were long, which suggests the existence of many autographed documents , especially letters, since mail and telephone calls were the only forms of communication during most of the singer's life.

Some examples of Astrud Gilberto's signatures

An autograph from Astrud Gilberto

The image shows an autograph by Astrud Gilberto written in green ink on a light yellow card. The dedication begins with the word “best -” indicating that it was written in the USA, followed by Astrud Gilberto’s signature , which appears written in cursive, slanted handwriting.

The signature has a fluid, spontaneous stroke, with “Astrud” beginning with a large, elegant “A,” while “Gilberto” has a looser style, with a bold, curved “G.” The use of green ink is an unusual detail, as most autographs are usually written in black or blue ink.

A dedication from Astrud Gilberto

The image shows a handwritten dedication and signature in black ink, located in the right corner of a black and white photograph. The text reads:

To Ke…

Sincerely,

Astrud Gilberto

Astrud Gilberto's signature is written in a flowing, elegant cursive script . The name "Astrud" is clearly legible, while "Gilberto" is more stylized. The dedication appears to be addressed to someone whose name begins with "Ke," but the rest of the text is either cut off or not visible.

A dedication about photography by Astrud Gilberto

The image shows a black and white photograph of Astrud Gilberto posing at an airport, with a Pan American plane in the background. She is smiling, wearing a plaid skirt, a sleeveless blouse, a hat and holding a white bag. With one hand, she waves at the camera.

In the left corner of the photo, there is a handwritten dedication in blue ink that reads:

To Paul, best wishes

Astrud Gilberto

This means “To Paul, best wishes,” followed by her signature. The writing is fluid and elegant, with the singer’s name clearly legible.

This personalized dedication makes the autograph even more special, as it was written directly to someone named Paul, suggesting that he had contact with Astrud Gilberto at some point. Since her autographs are rare, this signed photograph is a valuable item for collectors of bossa nova memorabilia.

Letters and manuscripts of Astrud Gilberto

Astrud Gilberto's letters, manuscripts, or even sheet music are extremely rare, and there is no record of a public collection displaying her writings in museums. However, it is possible that some autograph documents are in private collections, especially in the United States and Europe, where she lived and worked for most of her career. Some auction houses specializing in music and memorabilia may eventually offer items by her, but so far few pieces have come to market.

Who could she have corresponded with?

Astrud Gilberto was a reserved person, but throughout her career she rubbed shoulders with great names in music , such as João Gilberto, her first husband, Stan Getz, with whom she recorded The Girl from Ipanema, and Antonio Carlos Jobim , one of the main composers of bossa nova. She also collaborated with artists such as Gil Evans and Walter Wanderley.

On a personal level, João Gilberto and Astrud married in the late 1950s and separated shortly after the success of The Girl from Ipanema in the 1960s. They had a son, Marcelo Gilberto, from her marriage to João Gilberto. Like his parents, Marcelo also pursued a career in music.

FAQ

1. Are Astrud Gilberto's autographs rare?

Yes, they are quite rare, as she was a discreet person and did not usually participate in many fan events.

2. Is there a public collection of her manuscripts?

There are no records in public archives or museums with letters or manuscripts by Astrud Gilberto.

3. Where can I find an authentic autograph of hers?

Occasionally, her autographs appear at specialized auctions, in private collections or on www.glorias.com.br, the specialist in rare Brazilian documents.

Conclusion on Astrud Gilberto's autograph documents

Astrud Gilberto's autograph documents (autographs, dedications, handwritten letters) are practically non-existent on the market, with the exception of a few autographs that occasionally appear. This is due to her discreet personality and the way she led her career, avoiding the spotlight and maintaining a more reserved life, especially after her retirement from music.

However, it is likely that there are documents in the possession of some fans who had direct contact with the singer, as well as among family members or descendants of friends and colleagues with whom she corresponded over the years.

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