The Grass Harp
$9,500 · Offered by Biblio
First edition · Signed
New York: Random House, 1952. First edition, first printing. Four full-page black and white images taken for Life by Cecil Beaton. vi, 182, [2] pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Publisher's printed boards. Faded and slightly rubbed at edges, staining mostly affecting end of volume and rear cover. Inscribed on front flyleaf. Very Good copy, without dust jacket. In custom clamshell box. First edition, first printing. Four full-page black and white images taken for Life by Cecil Beaton. vi, 182, [2] pp. 1 vols. 8vo. A superb presentation copy of Capote's first play, inscribed to Harold Arlen, Capote's friend, surrogate father and mentor. The inscription reads "Harold: May 'House of Flowers' play a longer time than the Grass Harp - your dear friend and colleague Truman Feb. 1954." Capote and Arlen wrote the musical House of Flowers together, with Arlen providing the music and Capote the lyric and book, and it premiered in December of the year of the inscription Arlen, the composer of Over the Rainbow and many celebrated musicals, befriended the young Capote, who lived off and on in his New York apartment for several years.
- Publisher: Random House
- Year: 1952
- Edition: First Edition
- Printing: first
- Binding: unknown
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