Genthe, Arnold

As I Remember [Assocation Copy - Marion Morgan]; With One Hundred and Twelve Photographic Illustrations by the Author

New York: A John Day Book, Reynal & Hitchcock, (1936). First and Limited Edition. Hardcover. One of 250 copies, signed by Arnold Genthe, with a silver gelatin photograph of Marion Morgan attributed to Genthe, with an ANS by Morgan to "Dorothy", small quarto size, 304 pp., in slipcase. Near fine. Item #25111102

Arnold Genthe (1869-1942) achieved fame while working in San Francisco; his is the iconic photograph taken in the morning shortly after the 1906 earthquake, "Looking Down Sacramento Street, San Francisco, April 18, 1906". Genthe "was intrigued by the Chinese section of the city and photographed its inhabitants, from children to drug addicts...About 200 of his Chinatown pictures survive, and these comprise the only known photographic depictions of the area before the 1906 earthquake" (n.b., quote from Wiki).

He also formed a clientele of important Bay Area personages, including Sarah Bernhardt and Jack London, among many others. He would later move to New York and photographed famous people such as Theodore Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller, Greta Garbo, Isadora Duncan, and many others.

His autobiography gives us an accounting of his youth, his work, and the many people he met during his career. However, as he stated in the Foreword, "another, and more important, reason for my bringing out this volume was the opportunity it would give me of putting reproductions of some of my favorite photographs between the covers of a book and thereby letting others enjoy with me the results of my constant quest for beauty, which perhaps has been the chief aim of my life."

Loosely laid into this copy are: (i) a photograph of Marion Morgan (pencilled note on verso of tab) and (ii) an ANS signed "All my love, to Dorothy, from Marion". This probably Marion's partner, Dorothy Arzner; the note dated Christmas of the year of publication.

A fascinating association copy; Marion Morgan (1881-1971) was well-known in her day for her work in choreography and film screenwriting; she and Dorothy Arzner spent the last forty years of Arzner's life together.

___DESCRIPTION: Half navy leather over blue cloth-covered bevelled boards, gilt lettering on the front board, gilt lettering and ruled decorations on the spine, top edge gilt, the fore- and bottom edges uncut, blue laid paper endpapers, limitation statement tipped onto the front free endpaper, this no. 59 of 250 copies with Genthe's signature in blue ink, this page followed by the frontispiece which is a black-and-white reproduction of a self-portrait photograph of Genthe, on the verso of the frontis are four reproductions of "Cartoons of Arnold Genthe", the title page in blue and black, stated on this is "with one hundred and twelve photographic illustrations by the author" many of which are easily recognizable today (such as Jack London); printed on all-rag paper (per the limitation statement), binding small quarto size (10 3/8" by 8"), pagination: [i-iv] v-xiv [1-2] 3-290. The slipcase covered with plain dark blue cloth with a blue satin ribbon with which to ease the book out. The photograph of Marion Morgan one of Genthe's standard head shots. The ANS is on a sheet of note paper originally folded once to four pages, the first page with blue embossed initials "M.M.", the note dated "Christmas 1936", in addition to the greeting set forth above Morgan says: "A memento of my work that 'was' - which gave me tragic joy - and I am ever thankful you caught a glimpse of its fleeting beauty - M.M.", the note folded once for mailing, it came in a matching small envelope with the front simply marked "Dorothy" in the same hand; the note (unfolded) measures 6 7/8" by 5 3/8".

___CONDITION: Volume near fine, the boards clean, straight corners with minimal rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; the leather shelfback with very light wear at the head and tail and the top of the front joint, else fine. The slipcase better than very good, strong and sturdy with no splits or tears; light overall soil and some evidence of old damp on one side (which did not penetrate to the book, thankfully), the ribbon with creasing and some sunning but still firmly attached to the interior of the case. The photograph of Marion Morgan near fine with light edgewear and a few light scratches in the bottom portion (not obscuring her features), the ANS about fine with some light creases, the envelope also near fine with very light wear and some sunning.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note the following: (i) additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs, please inquire for details; and (ii) any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.

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Price: $600.00