EXTREMELY RARE GEORGE GERSHWIN HAND-SIGNED PORTRAIT TAKEN BY HIS FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHER, MAURICE GOLDBERG, WHO'S IMAGE OF GERSHWIN AT THE PIANO HAS BECOME AN ICONIC IMAGE OF POPULAR AMERICAN MUSIC. THIS VERY RARE GERSHWIN SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH IS FOUND IN HIS GEORGE GERSHWIN'S SONG-BOOK, ALONG WITH 18 AMAZING ILLUSTRATIONS BY CONSTANTIN ALAJALOV. Signed: "To Jerry - with my warmest greeting, (In Palm Springs), Mar. 1937, George Gershwin", boldly signed just four months before his untimely death, at age 38, with an incredible 4.5" signature below the frontispiece portrait, in fountain pen, 10 x 13. The photo is by Gershwin's favorite photographer, Maurice Goldberg. George Gershwin's Song-Book, First Edition, NY: New World Music Corporation, Harms Inc. 1932, hardcover, 167 pages, with 18 illustrations by Constantin Alajalov. Comes with a striking custom wood hinged display case with a glass front. Autographic condition: fine, with a light stain under the signature. Book condition: very good, with some scuffing, rubbing, and staining. A spectacular display of this important book with scarce iconic signed photograph.
Maurice Goldberg (1881-1949) Russian-born, American photographer who was a celebrated artist noted for his technical mastery of images for theatre, dance, and movies in both Hollywood and on Broadway. His photographs are noted for dramatic shadowing, strong form, and pictorial clarity as can be seen in this stunning iconic image of George Gershwin at the piano. He was the greatest dance photographer of the 1920s and 30s, a talented portraitist, a chronicler of persons in the performing arts, who liked to show dancers and musicians engaged in performance. A collection of his work is in the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Constantin Alajalov (1900-1987) Armenian-American painter who immigrated to New York City in 1923 and created covers for such magazines as The New Yorker, The Saturday Evening Post, and Fortune. He also illustrated many books and was personally chosen by Gershwin to do a set of edgy drawings illustrating each of the 18 songs in the first editions of George Gershwin's Song- Book. #12356ZWMWO
Certificate of Authenticity
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