FIN DE PARTIE, SUIVI DE ACTE SANS PAROLES [ENDGAME, FOLLOWED BY ACTS WITHOUT WORDS] - INSCRIBED TO GODDARD LIEBERSON
by Beckett, Samuel
- Used
- Signed
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Stephenson, Virginia, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Paris: Les Ãditions de Minuit, 1957. First Edition. Attractive copy of Beckett's second dramatic masterpiece concerning the ennui surrounding Hamm and Clov, two mutually-dependent characters living in a wasteland of rubbish. Lieberson (1911-1977) was the president of Columbia Records from 1956-1971, and again from 1973-1975. Prior to that, he had been the producer and driving force behind their adoption of the long-play record (LP), which allowed for the complete recording on one disc of whole symphonies, entire operas, and Broadway musicals. He produced several of Columbia's first LP original cast recordings, such as South Pacific and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, though he seldom recorded whole plays. The one exception was the original 1956 Broadway production for Waiting for Godot, starring Bert Lahr as Estragon and E.G. Marshall as Vladimir. Best known as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, Lahr's presence on the bill was not enough to make Godot a hit - audiences left in droves and the show folded after 60 performances. Lieberson, however, saw something special and called for a complete recording of the play. The LP also fared poorly, now a collectible oddity, though it is thanks to Lieberson that an audio performance of the original Broadway cast exists at all. Given the poor success of Godot, Fin de Partie neither made it to Broadway, nor was it recorded by Lieberson. The play's American premiere was held in 1958, at the Cherry Lane Theatre in Greenwich Village, staged by Godot's original director Alan Schneider, and featuring Alvin Epstein, one of the play's original cast members, in the leading role of Clov. A good association copy, likely inscribed just days following publication (January 30). Federman & Fletcher 265. Trade Issue, one of 3,000 copies. Octavo (18.5cm); publisher's original printed wrappers, with pages chiefly unopened; 121,[7]pp. Inscribed on the half-title page, in the month following publication, to Columbia Records president Goddard Lieberson and his wife: "For Mr. & Mrs. Goddard Lieberson / vous cordiale / Samuel Beckett / Paris Feb.1957." Gentle sunning to spine, tanning to text edges, with a few preliminary and terminal leaves roughly opened, else Near Fine, housed in a bespoke slipcase and chemise.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Captain Ahab's Rare Books (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 4335
- Title
- FIN DE PARTIE, SUIVI DE ACTE SANS PAROLES [ENDGAME, FOLLOWED BY ACTS WITHOUT WORDS] - INSCRIBED TO GODDARD LIEBERSON
- Author
- Beckett, Samuel
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- First Edition
- Publisher
- Les Ãditions de Minuit
- Place of Publication
- Paris
- Date Published
- 1957
Terms of Sale
Captain Ahab's Rare Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Captain Ahab's Rare Books
Biblio member since 2010
Stephenson, Virginia
About Captain Ahab's Rare Books
Founded in 2010, Captain Ahab's Rare Books specializes in first editions of literature, genre fiction, film-related books and ephemera, zines, manuscript and archival material.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Association Copy
- An association copy is a copy of a book which has been signed and inscribed by the author for a personal friend, colleague, or...
- Inscribed
- When a book is described as being inscribed, it indicates that a short note written by the author or a previous owner has been...
- Poor
- A book with significant wear and faults. A poor condition book is still a reading copy with the full text still readable. Any...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- Leaves
- Very generally, "leaves" refers to the pages of a book, as in the common phrase, "loose-leaf pages." A leaf is a single sheet...