Beethoven Sonatas for Piano Book II (Edited by Alfredo Casella) - Casa Ricordi Edition (E.R. 2 b)
Casa Ricordi (G. Ricordi & C.) · Books & Media > Sheet Music & Songbooks
Era / Decade
Mid-20th Century (circa 1930s-1950s), based on typography, cover art design, binding style, and plate number format (E.R. 2 b).
Material
Heavy paper softcover with stapled/bound paper sheets; standard newsprint/pulp composition typical of vintage mid-century music scores.
Condition
Fair to Good condition. Shows noticeable edge wear, corner bumping, faint creasing, surface discoloration/age toning around the borders, and light foxing/staining along the spine edges. Staples/binding show age wear.
Demand Level
Niche to Moderate. Primarily sought after by classical pianists, music scholars, collectors of vintage Ricordi editions, or for vintage decorative prop usage.
Resale Value
Estimated Resale Value
$10.00 - $20.00 (Low: $8, Mid: $15, High: $22 depending on internal marking levels and condition of inner pages).
Estimated Retail Value
$25.00 - $35.00 (Cost of a modern brand-new critical edition equivalent from Ricordi or Henle).
Comparable Sales
Similar vintage Ricordi Beethoven/Casella edition volumes routinely sell for $12.00 - $18.00 on eBay and Etsy depending on condition and interior cleanliness.
Description
Vintage mid-century softcover sheet music book titled 'BEETHOVEN SONATAS FOR PIANO - Book II', edited by renowned Italian composer Alfredo Casella. Published in Italy by Ricordi (Edition catalog code E.R. 2 b). Features multilingual titles on the cover in English, French (Sonates pour Piano II Vol.), and German (Sonaten für Klavier II Band). Classic terracotta orange graphic cover with white geometric borders.
Key Features
Critical scholarly edition edited by Alfredo Casella; published by prestigious Italian music publisher Ricordi; vintage aesthetic suitable for both study and decorative vintage display.
Authenticity Indicators
authentic Ricordi publication featuring proper catalog/edition number (E.R. 2 b) printed at the bottom left; classic original font styling and Ricordi publisher mark. Confidence: High.
Flaws to Note
Significant yellowing and age-toning along cover margins; frayed edges on left spine fold; corner bumps; potential pencil or ink markings inside (common in used performance scores).
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay (best for vintage sheet music collectors), Etsy (great for vintage paper ephemera and music decor), or local music store consignment.
Selling Tips
Photograph the table of contents and a few interior pages to show whether there are handwritten music annotations or pencil marks. Use key terms like 'Casella Edition', 'Ricordi', 'Vintage Classical Sheet Music', and 'Piano Sonatas' in title.