MESSEL, Oliver.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Stage Designs and Costumes. First edition, presentation copy, inscribed by the author to the film director George Cukor in pencil on the half-title, "and interior decorations gratis for George from Oliver, 1935". At the time of the inscription, Messel was designing the sets and costumes for Cukor's Romeo and Juliet (1936), which was nominated for four Oscars. This scarce deluxe copy is number 18 of 50 deluxe copies signed by Messel and Laver on handmade paper with two extra colour plates. It features the costumes, set designs, and masks created by Oliver Messel (1904-1978) from the first decade of his career. Some of the designs featured include C. B. Cochran's Helen (1932), The Miracle (1932), and his Revues of 1930 and 1931. Messel worked with Cukor again on Caesar and Cleopatra (1946). George Cukor (1899-1983) directed A Star is Born (1954), Little Women (1933) and My Fair Lady (1964), for which he won an Academy Award. This copy has Cukor's attractive Paul Landacre bookplate on the front pastedown.

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