This may duplicate information you already have, but _The Fabulous Phonograph, 1877-1977_, by Roland Gelatt (New York: Collier Books, 1977), contains the following on Page 77: A reporter from _The Phonoscope_ visited the studio [Gianni Bettini's Fifth Avenue studio] in 1896 and came away dazzled by the cylinders he had heard: The collection...is unequaled anywhere... The next cylinder was one labeled "Melba," which was truly wonderful; the phonograph reproducing her wonderful voice in a mar- velous manner, especially on the high notes which soared away above the staff and were rich and clear. Mark Twain interrupted the singer with a few remarks on the experience he had had in trying to make practical use of the instrument. The humorist is now on his lecturing tour around the world and the record he made in the phonograph was taken in December 1893... The book goes on to say, "Considering Bettini's prices and the small scale on which he operated, it is doubtful whether he sold more than a few hundred copies of any one recording. In no other way can the fact be explained that today Bettini cylinders are even rarer than Gutenberg Bibles or Shake- speare quartos. A group of them was discovered in 1945 in Mexico City--none, unfortunately, by singers of eminent stature--and sold to a collector in Boston. I know of no other authenticated Bettini cylinders in existence; Bettini's own collection of 'originals' was stored in a French warehouse in 1914 and destroyed by bombing during World War II." Besr regards, Mary Leah Christmas