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Blues. An Anthology
W. C. Handy
HANDY, W.C., ed. (1873-1958). Blues. An Anthology. New York: Albert & Charles Boni, 1926.
First edition, second printing, George Gershwin’s copy, humorously inscribed by British stage actress Gertrude Lawrence, the star of Gershwin’s Treasure Girl. Inscribed by Lawrence for Gershwin on the reverse of the frontispiece 'December 25th 1918 [sic/misdated, 1928] Dearest George! This with much love and appreciation for all the lovely times you have let me sing (?) and with many apologies for my countryman St John Irvine [sic]. Best of everything for next year and many to come. Gertrude Lawrence.'
The inscription refers to critic St. John Ervine’s searing review of Gershwin’s Treasure Girl starring Gertrude Lawrence, a disastrous production that closed after only 68 performances. ‘The seriously tone-deaf Ervine was so carried away by his anger that, after demolishing the book,’ wrote Lawrence D. Stewart ‘he accused the Gershwins of plagiarising two of the production’s songs: certainly the first time anyone charged this in print. The Gershwins immediately sent the critic copies of the attacked numbers and asked for details. No reply was forthcoming. Chagrined, as the show floundered in December, Gertrude Lawrence sent Gershwin a copy of the W.C. Handy anthology of Blues with a note.’ Handy’s anthology was the first book on blues for a general audience and established blues as a subject worthy of study. Jablonski, Gershwin, 173-4. Komara, ed. The Blues Encyclopaedia, 401.
Folio (299 x 224 mm). Introduction and notes by Abbe Niles, illustrations by Miguel Covarrubias featuring piano and vocal scores for a collection of songs including three by the Gershwins. Original black and purple cloth (lacking scarce dust-jacket, cloth a little marked, extremities lightly rubbed, bruising to spine ends). Provenance: George Gershwin (1898-1937; presentation inscription from Gertrude Lawrence).