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Lot 73

GERSHWIN, GEORGE. 1898-1937.
Porgy and Bess. New York: Gershwin Publishing Corp, [c.1935].

4 June 2014, 13:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$5,625 inc. premium

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GERSHWIN, GEORGE. 1898-1937.

Porgy and Bess. New York: Gershwin Publishing Corp, [c.1935].
4to (302 x 220 mm). Libretto by Du Bose Heyward. Frontispiece photolithographed portrait. Original cloth-backed wrappers. Sunned, upper cover detached.
Provenance: Elza Heifetz, 1905-1998 (presentation inscription); by descent to the current owners.

PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED AND SIGNED WITH MUSICAL QUOTATION FROM PORGY AND BESS below the portrait frontispiece: "For Elza—In happy remembrance of happy times together. With sincere admiration. George Gershwin" and with a 4-bar quotation from Porgy and Bess headed "andante Cantabile," being the theme from the song, "Bess, You is my Woman Now," the romantic show-stopper of Gershwin's opera.
Elza Heifetz was the younger sister of famed violinist Jascha Heifetz and was very much at the center of cultural life in New York. The time of this inscription dates from the early thirties, shortly before she married the playwright and author, S.N. Behrman. George Gershwin dated Elza's sister, Pauline.

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