johnson rare books & archives, ABAA (16 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First edition. 216 p. Designed by Craig Dodd. Profusely illustrated, partially in color. First American Edition. A collection of public and private photographs (many not seen before), music sheets, unpublished songs, paintings, programmes, posters, manuscript pages, decor and costume designs, letters, cables and caricatures which taken together illustrate the career of master entertainer Noel Coward (1899-1973). This copy is signed by Graham Payn on the title page, with two copies of the program for the "Remembering Noel Coward" event hosted by the USC Libraries on February 24, 1980 laid in. Quarto. Original white cloth binding, with silver titles. Previous owner's ink signature to the front pastedown. The dust jacket is a bit yellowed along the extremities, with a few instances of light edgewear and two small tape repairs to the verso; otherwise very good. Signed by Author.

Seller Inventory # 60685

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. First edition. 310 p. 32 illustrations. The theatrical memoirs of Frederick Barkham Warde (1851-1935), an English Shakesperian actor who relocated to the United States in the late 19th century. He is perhaps best known for having discovered Douglas Fairbanks, and as the star of Richard III (1912), the 55-minute motion picture thought to be the earliest surviving American feature film. Inscribed by Warde on the front flyleaf, with two typescript copies of Warde's poem "The Vision of Junipero Serra" laid in. Octavo. Original green cloth binding, with black stamping. Some offsetting to the front endpaper. The boards are clean and bright. A very good copy. Inscribed by Author.

Seller Inventory # 61154

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 314 p. Frontispiece portrait, with 31 textual illustrations. Second edition. The theatrical memoirs of Frederick Barkham Warde (1851-1935), an English Shakesperian actor who relocated to the United States in the late 19th century. He is perhaps best known for having discovered Douglas Fairbanks, and as the star of Richard III (1912), the 55-minute motion picture thought to be the earliest surviving American feature film. Inscribed by Warde to George Leslie Smith, with Smith's bookplate to the front pastedown. Octavo. In a three-quarter pebbled burgundy cloth over brown buckram binding, with gilt titles and marbled endpapers. The hinges are tender. A bit of wear to the corners and tips; else very good. Inscribed by Author.

Seller Inventory # 62411

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First edition. Numerous textual photographs and illustrations. Mineola, New York: Radio Magazines, 1959. First edition. The first major work on modern theatrical acoustics and sound engineering, including discussion of the mechanics of hearing and psycho-acoustics, the basic elements of a sound system and electrical controls, sources and pickup, etc. Burris-Meyer was a pioneering theater director and recording engineer who also helped create the U.S. Navy "Beach Jumpers" Unit during World War II, which covertly used recordings and sound broadcasts to create tactical cover and deception in naval warfare. Small quarto. A very good copy in a very good, price-clipped jacket that is lightly worn at the spine ends and corners.

Seller Inventory # 13705

Hardcover. Condition: Near fine. First Edition. This is No. 101 of 160 copies signed by the author. The autobiography of American actor Edward H. Sothern (1859-1933), who was widely popular for his roles in romantic comedy and was noted as well for his performances in Shakespearean plays. Octavo: 409 p. with a frontispiece portrait, numerous textual illustrations, and a folding facsimile. In a one-quarter green cloth over green paper binding, with gilt decorations. Largely unopened. The spine is lightly faded; else a sharp, nearly fine copy.

Seller Inventory # 73666

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. An architectural history of the ninety playhouses, from Moorish masterpieces to Art Deco delights, which once lined Broadway. Quarto: 288 p. with more than 300 rare photographs, plans, and architects' renderings. Original black cloth binding, with gilt titles. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket.

Seller Inventory # 75180

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. First edition. 529 p. Frontispiece, with numerous textual illustrations. An account of the California theatres, their social influence, the favorite players, performances, circuses and other shows from the discovery at Sutter's Mill in 1848 until 1860. Presentation copy, inscribed by MacMinn to William Huse, Jr. on the front flyleaf. Octavo. Original black cloth binding, with green stamping. Light dust staining to the top edge. In the uncommon dust jacket, which is somewhat edgeworn with a bit of browning along the spine, a small chip to the spine head, and a large triangular piece missing from the top of the rear panel. Inscribed by Author.

Seller Inventory # 62383

Hardcover. Condition: Very good. One of the first actresses on the English stage, Eleanor Gwyn (1650-1687) became best known for being a long-time mistress of King Charles II. Called "pretty, witty Nell" by Samuel Pepys, she has been regarded as a living embodiment of the spirit of Restoration England and has come to be considered a folk heroine, with a story echoing the rags-to-royalty tale of Cinderella. 212 p. with a frontispiece portrait, 24 plates, and 6 textual illustrations. Octavo. In a full blue morocco binding by Root & Son, with decorative gilt stamping, five raised bands, ornamental dentelles, silk endpapers, and a ribbon marker (the original cloth has is bound in at the rear). Ink presentation inscription by binder Herbert E. Root on a prefatory blank leaf. The front hinge and front joint are starting, with some minor rubbing along the rear joint. Some sun fading to the spine; else very good.

Seller Inventory # 73188

Wraps. Condition: Very good. Authorized Copyright Edition. A notice from Gilbert and Sullivan printed at the front states: "Messrs. J.M. Stoddart & Co. have purchased from us the exclusive authority to publish our operas, 'Patience; or Bunthorne's Bride,' and 'The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty,' in the United States of America. We hereby express the earnest wish that they may suffer no invasion of their rights as the sole publishers of our works, through any attempt to put upon the market authorized editions. We make this request for the following reasons." Patience was first performed at the Opera Comique, London on April 23, 1881. Original printed blue paper wrappers. Some mild soiling and edgewear, with a period previous owner's signature to the front panel; otherwise very good. From the library of revered English actor, comedian, musician, and writer Eric Idle, accompanied by a letter of provenance. Idle (b.1943) is a founding member of the British comedy troupe Monty Python, as well as the parody rock group The Rutles, and is the writer of the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical Spamalot.

Seller Inventory # 75594

Hardcover. Condition: Very good. Quarto. In a contemporary half black calf over black cloth binding, with gilt stamping. Toning to the pages of "Evangeline" only. Some general shelfwear; else very good. Privately bound into a volume labeled on the spine "Music" with three other contemporary operettas with titles in gilt on the front panel alongside the original owner's initials ("C.C.P."), also in gilt. In addition to "Iolanthe", the volume contains: "La Mascotte, Opera Comique. Music by Edmond Audran. Piano Solo." (Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co., no date); "The Popular Opera of The Bohemian Girl. Composed by M[ichael] W[illiam] Balfe. Arranged as a Solo for the Pianoforte." (London: Chappell and Co., no date); [and] "Evangeline. American: Opera: Bouffe. Libretto by J. Cheever Godwin, Music by Edward E. Rice. Arranged for Piano." (New York: T.B. Harms & Co., 1877). From the library of revered English actor, comedian, musician, and writer Eric Idle, accompanied by a letter of provenance. Idle (b.1943) is a founding member of the British comedy troupe Monty Python, as well as the parody rock group The Rutles, and is the writer of the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical Spamalot.

Seller Inventory # 75558

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Fine. First Edition. Presentation copy, inscribed by Leslie Bricusse to Eric Idle on the front flyleaf. Octavo: 527 p. with numerous textual photographs (most color). Original black cloth binding, with gilt titles. Light bump to the spine head; else fine in a fine dust jacket. From the library of revered English actor, comedian, musician, and writer Eric Idle, accompanied by a letter of provenance. Idle (b.1943) is a founding member of the British comedy troupe Monty Python, as well as the parody rock group The Rutles, and is the writer of the music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical Spamalot. In a review for his Eric Idle Online! blog concerning his June and July reading in 2013, Idle wrote: "Pure delight from the long and wonderful Musical Career of Leslie Bricusse. President of Footlights, he paved the way to Broadway writing so many brilliant songs, often with Anthony Newley. 'If I Ruled The World', 'What Kind of Fool Am I?', 'Gonna Build A Mountain', 'You Only Live Twice'.I could go on but Sammy Davis Jr. recorded 60 of his songs.An inspiration and delightful company.".

Seller Inventory # 75563

Typescript, 16 p. on rectos only of fine laid paper (8 �" x 6 �"), with handmade and lettered paper wrappers. The wrappers are detached, with chipping along the edges. A possibly unique presentation of Levinson's 1930 essay lauding the accomplishments of Craig, this typescript, including the original French text as well as a translation into English, appears to have been prepared for Craig himself, or at least at his behest. The wrappers are lettered in Craig's hand. In addition, he has made a number of holographic notes at the end, identifying both the author and translation ("D.W.") and adding: "Levinson writing to me soon after says 'Lugne-Poe has written me a letter of hate.'" He also inserted a quote from Horace: "The limbs of the dismembered poet." On the verso of the last leaf, Craig has begun a pencil list of names along with the designations "English" and / or "French" as if compiling a roster of recipients for this essay. A likely scenario was that Craig saw Levinson's praise as an opportunity for publicity and wished to distribute the article to select recipients. In addition to the notes already described, Craig made a few small adjustments to the English text. Edward Gordon Craig (1872-1966) was one of the most radical and influential forces on the stages of the world. His productions across Europe, inspirational designs, and prolific writings defined him as a leading modernist of 20th century theatre. Craig's visions have invigorated generations of theatre-makers and continue to resonate and inspire today.

Seller Inventory # 74070

Hardcover. Condition: Near fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near fine. First Edition. Signed by ten actors, directors, and other artists associated with the Black Theatre Renaissance, including Edmund Cambridge, Lee Chamberlin, Sheila Frazier, Dawnn Lewis, Lou Myers, Ron O'Neal, Jo Marie Payton, and Dick Anthony Williams. "For over thirty years, Bert Andrews' photographs have captured the power, passion, and promise of African-American theatre. After his studio burned down in 1985, a priceless legacy was nearly lost; but the theatre community banded together to help reassemble copies of the destroyed photographs. Now, for the first time, nearly 200 of these dramatic and compelling images are gathered together in one landmark book - the first collection to visually chronicle the Black Theatre Renaissance that took place in New York from 1960 to 1985." Introduction by Cecily Tyson. Quarto: 150 p. Original gray paper-covered boards over a black cloth spine, with silver titles. A near fine copy in a lightly edgeworn dust jacket.

Seller Inventory # 74375

Hardcover. Condition: Very good. First Edition. The British writer and journalist Pierce Egan (1772-1849) was a leading Regency voice, best known for coining the term "the Sweet Science" as an epithet for boxing. Following the success of his book Life in London (1821) and its stage adaptation later that year, he published this story in nine parts about actor Peregrine Proteus, who quits his apprenticeship with a printer in a quest for glory on stage. Royal octavo: xvi, 272 p. with a hand-colored aquatint frontispiece and 26 hand-colored aquatint plates by Theodore Lane, and a woodcut vignette title-page and 8 textual woodcuts by John Thompson. In an exquisite crushed blue morocco binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, with elaborate gilt stamping, five raised bands, ornamental dentelles, and brown endpapers. Some mild toning to the contents. The spine is darkened just a touch; else very good or better.

Seller Inventory # 76133

Hardcover. Condition: Very good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very good. Various printings, many are first editions. An unbroken run of the series hailed in 1967 as "the oldest continuous record of theatrical activity on Broadway and environs". Mantle founded the series at the request of editors from Small, Maynard in Boston, who were looking for an analogue to their existing Best American Short Stories yearbook. He retained the editorship for 27 years, overlapping his work as a daily critic for the New York Daily News from 1922 until 1943. As yearbook editor, Mantle established the practice not only of selecting and redacting the ten "best" plays of every season but also providing what Joseph Wood Krutch lauded as a record "astonishing in its completeness" and analogous to those in other specialist fields but previously nonexistent for theatre. Each volume lists, "in the order of their first nights, every New York theatrical production for the year - with its cast, its run, and a brief synopsis of the plot. Moreover, all of this is indexed and supplemented by various other compendia of information (Dorothy Chansky, Burns Mantle and the American Theatregoing Public, Theatre History Studies, Volume 31). This set of 61 octavos includes the two supplementary volumes (1899-1909 and 1909-1919) and the 1899-1950 index. Original cloth bindings. All volumes are in dust jackets, including 12 plain paper wrappers and one glassine wrapper. A very good set overall, with some general shelfwear, tape reinforcement to the verso of a few dust jackets, and a bit of minor toning.

Seller Inventory # 73854

The papers and photographs of The Popcorn Theatre, a popular marionette show operated in Southern California for three decades by John D.K. Brunner (1925-93) and his wife Vivian (1926 -2005) along with their son Paris. This collection contains hundreds of original photographs, negatives, sketches for puppets, story concepts, and flyers for promoting shows. Also included is the iconic Popcorn Theatre wooden sign that was used at countless shows and two marionettes. The Brunner's, who were both raised in Southern California, married in 1947 and moved to Paris to study at the Sorbonne, where they often enjoyed watching puppet shows in the city's parks. When they returned to the Unites States, Vivian worked as a dress designer and John as an art director. Neither was happy, so they quit their jobs in 1962 and founded their touring marionette show The Popcorn Theatre. Their son Paris is seen in photographs assisting with puppets from an early age. The Popcorn Theatre was a staple at Southern California schools and performed regularly at area malls, parks, and community centers. Their versatile puppet cast included nearly 100 marionettes, all which were hand crafted by the couple. The most detailed puppets took as much as 600 hours to carve, paint, costume, and string. This archive includes two example marionettes. One is a felt green and blue character called a pi�ata with moving eyes and mouth that stands about 22 inches tall. The second is a 27-inch-tall grizzled old man. The strings and wooden controller are still attached to both; however the strings are badly tangled. Additionally, the archive contains a variety of ephemera and paper relating to The Popcorn Theatre, including: Three copies of a stapled 8.5 x 11 inch booklet entitled Puppetry written by John Brunner and apparently published by the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. It is 19 pages plus a dozen or more illustrated pages. One of the copies is annotated in ink with a course outline laid in along with a handwritten sheet entitled people at county puppet class; A folder with a few work-related items for John Brunner, including his business card as art director at an advertising agency and a Mattel Inc. profit sharing worksheet; Several dozen half sheet flyers for two different performances of The Popcorn Theater - one for Rapunzel and the other for The Bremen Town Musicians; Several hundred 8.5 x 11 inch flyers promoting The Popcorn Theatre and its performances, many of them duplicates. There are flyers for booking a performance as a fundraiser, promoting the performance at your school, and for the following specific performances: The Bremen Town Musicians; Rapunzel; Who Stopped the Carousel; The Mysterious Hike; The Invisible Hike; Who Took the Golden Eggs?; Canterbury and Oother Tales; Hats a Courtin; and The Burro's Secret Tale; An 11 x 17 poster promoting holiday shows of Rapunzel; A trifold brochure for The Popcorn Theatre; Stationary for The Popcorn Theatre; Public relations materials for the theatre, including a one page description of the theatre and synopsis of several plays, including The Invisible Hike, Who Tooks the Golden Eggs?, The Burro's Secret Tale, The Mysterious, Invisible Hike, and Hats-A-Courtin; A half dozen advertisements and newspaper clips for the theatre; Lists of schools with notes about which ones were contacted for performances, along with a one sheet describing appealing to colleges for the performance of Canterbury and Oother Tales; A folder with more than a dozen handwritten pages of notes which appear to be ideas for plays and a book; Six 14 x 17 inch sheets with full color character sketches of what appear to be potential puppets that could appear in a proposed International House of Pancakes commercial - they include The Pancake Gobbler; Two four-page typed story ideas for a marionette show entitled "The Little Jewel". One is dated 1968 with handwritten notes and the second is dated 1970; A typed letter and handw.

Seller Inventory # 74693