LEONARD BERNSTEIN: The Man and His World
World, 1961. First Edition. Hardcover with Dust Jacket. SIGNED and inscribed by Leonard Bernstein on the FFEP in black felt pen, 'For SO + RS / [Signed] / '89.' 275pp. 12mo, two-toned black and red cloth with printed photo image of Bernstein on the upper black front cover, lettering stamped in gilt; B/W photo plates. Exceedingly clean and sharp, a FINE copy; DJ tips worn, price clipped, clean and bright otherwise. Briggs chronicles 'Bernstein's meteoric rise, at the age of twenty-five, to the conductorship of the New York Philharmonic' as well as scoring West Side Story, On the Waterfront, and many other major Broadway musicals. Although Briggs depicts Berstein as a happily married family man, by this point he had been having affairs with men and women for many years. It was in California where Bernstein first lived openly as a gay man in the 70's and met Stathis and Ralph. He signed this and two other books with a greeting for his last Christmas before dying in October of 1990. Of particular note is this book's association with the prominent LA gay couple, Ralph Sylvester and Stathis Orphanos. In addition to Stathis's highly regarded photography, the two operated the great fine-press publishing concern, Sylvester & Orphanos. NEAR FINE / Very Good. Item #505522
Price: $750.00