[Rarebooks] FS: HELLO, DOLLY! Simply the Best

[Charles Agvent]

WILDER, Thornton. THE MERCHANT OF YONKERS. New York and London: Harper & 
Brothers, 1939. First Edition. SIGNED and not inscribed by the author on 
the title page in New Haven in July 1940 and quite scarce thus as Wilder 
nearly always inscribed books rather than simply signing unless it were 
for a limited edition. This is also a scarce Review Copy with a folded 
8-1/2" x 11" sheet of green paper with Harper's letterhead giving the 
publication date as 13 April 1939 and with a long paragraph describing 
the origin of the play and a few details about its production. Wilder 
based MERCHANT on a play by Johann Nestroy dating back to Vienna of 
1842. Initially a flop, MERCHANT was revised by Wilder into the Broadway 
hit THE MATCHMAKER, which in turn was later transformed into the monster 
musical HELLO, DOLLY!, the title song helping to thrust Louis Armstrong 
from the isolated world of jazz into popular American culture. Though 
there is no physical indication of such, this is from the collection of 
coal baron La Fayette Butler, many of whose books were left untouched 
from the time of purchase until their sale in the summer of 1999. A 
tight, crisp copy in a close to Fine dustwrapper with gentle wear to the 
head of the spine which is very mildly sunned. Triple Crown Winner: 
Signed, Review Copy, and simply Lovely condition. Fine in a Fine 
dustwrapper. (#011267)        $4,500.00

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