I have been in the rare and antiquarian book business for over forty years; my family has been in the rare books business since 1876. Rare books are in my blood.
Gershwins, The
New York: Atheneum, 1973. Item #06669
“With All Best and Affection” - Ira Gershwin to Leslie Bricusse
A Companion Association Volume to The Gershwin Years
[GERSHWIN, George & Ira]. The Gershwins. By Robert Kimball and Alfred Simon. Designed by Bea Feitler. New York: Atheneum, 1973.
First edition. Folio (12 x 9 inches; 305 x 229 mm.). xlii, [1], [1, blank], [1]–292 pp. Profusely illustrated throughout.
Publisher’s red cloth, covers and spine stamped in metallic purple, gray endpapers, top edge stained purple. A fine copy in the original pictorial dust jacket (spine minimally faded, small closed tear to lower front panel).
Inscribed on the first blank leaf:
“For Leslie Bricusse / With all Best / and affection / Ira Gershwin / Beverly Hills, Sept. 26, 1973.”
A warm and direct presentation from Ira Gershwin to Leslie Bricusse - notably dated the same day as the more elaborate inscription in The Gershwin Years, suggesting a single meeting or presentation occasion in Beverly Hills.
A superb composer-to-composer association copy, reinforcing the connection between: Ira Gershwin, half of one of the most influential songwriting partnerships in American history and Leslie Bricusse, a leading lyricist of the postwar generation (Goldfinger, Doctor Dolittle, Willy Wonka).
The inscription - simple, affectionate, and unforced - contrasts nicely with the more playful, literary inscription in the companion volume, together offering a rare dual portrait of Gershwin’s voice: personal and performative.
The Gershwins is the great large-format visual and documentary companion to the Jablonski/Stewart biography - richly illustrated, with detailed song copyright listings and archival imagery.
Designed by Bea Feitler, it stands as one of the most visually striking Gershwin publications of the period.
Price: $1,650.00