ID 1016490
Lot 119 | A Streetcar Named Desire
Estimate value
£ 4 000 – 6 000
Tennessee Williams
Tennessee WILLIAMS (1911-1983). A Streetcar Named Desire. New York: A New Directions Book by James Laughlin, 1947.
Presentation copy of the first edition of arguably the most famous American play of the 20th century. Additionally signed to the front endpapers by members of the cast of various productions including Jessica Tandy, Eliza Kazan, Kim Hunter, and Rip Torn. The story, set in New Orleans, of Blanche DuBois, her sister Stella, and brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski, won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize in drama. It was adapted into the 1951 film directed by Elia Kazan and starring a not-yet-famous Marlon Brando together with Vivien Leigh, who reprised her role from the London theatre production. Crandell A5.1.a
Octavo. Loosely inserted are a notecard signed by Kathleen Turner, a stapled copy of the 3 November 1947 issue of Playtime, and a printed advertisement by Jonathan Cape. Original lilac boards (spine ends and extremities a little rubbed); original pictorial dust-jacket by Alvin Lustig (somewhat faded and darkened, front flap detached, spine panel partly split with minor loss of letters, a few minor chips and repaired tears); custom morocco-backed black cloth box. Provenance: Joe McMahon (authorial presentation inscription to front free endpaper: ‘To Joe McMahon best wishes Tennessee Williams’) – Arnold Hoswith (ownership inscription to upper corner of front pastedown).
Artist: | Thomas Lanier Williams (Tennessee Williams, 1911 - 1983) |
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Auction house category: | Printed books |
Artist: | Thomas Lanier Williams (Tennessee Williams, 1911 - 1983) |
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Auction house category: | Printed books |
Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
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Preview |
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Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
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