Blues: An Anthology. Edited by W.C. Handy. With an introduction and notes by Abbe Niles. Illustrations by Miguel Covarrubias.

Handy, W.C.

Price: $2,750.00

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New York: A. and C. Boni, 1926. Second printing, May 1926 Cloth, very good condition. With the following full page inscription on the back of the frontispiece, to George Gershwin: "December 25th 1918 [sic] / Dearest George! This with much love and appreciation for all the lovely tunes you have let me sing (?) and with many apologies for my countryman St. John Irvin. Best of everything for next year and many to come. Gertrude Lawrence." Three Gershwin tunes are included, and commented on. (Item ID: 27795)

$2,750.00

"Lawrence and Gershwin had been friends since meeting each other through Jules Glaenzer in late 1923. Some months later, Lawrence attended the premiere of "Rhapsody in Blue" and a reception afterwards....When Gershwin arrived in London in 1928 for the West End production of "Oh, Kay!" [which he'd written for her] Lawrence accompanied him to his fittings for suits on Savile Row and his shopping expeditions.," Pollack, George Gershwin: His Life and Work, p. 379. "Oh, Kay!" was a considerable success both in New York and London, and has been revived numerous times. Gershwin's next show for Lawrence, "Treasure Girl" (1928) did not fare so well, and it was St. John Ervine's review in "The World", (he suspected that the show might close before his notice went to print) that Lawrence apologizes for. It would close the following week, after 68 performances.

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