Oliver Messel. Introduction by James Laver & foreword by Charles B. Cochran.
John Lane. The Bodley Head Limited. London. 1933. First edition. No. 18 of the deluxe edition of 50 copies, printed on hand-made paper with 2 extra colour plates, signed by Messel and Laver and bound in full vellum. Inscribed in pencil to George Cukor by Messel to half-title - 'and interior decorations gratis. For George from Oliver 1935.' Hardback, quarto; full vellum, black and white title inked to spine, clear acetate dust jacket with title and illustration printed to front, top edge gilt. [viii], 37 pages. Colour frontispiece and 57 hors-texte plates (9 in colour) reproducing photographs and drawings. English. 290 x 225mm. 1.2kg. . Very good, in fair dust jacket; slight shelf wear, wear to base of spine with slight loss to vellum; wear to acetate jacket which is as usual very brittle, short split to front fold, wear to spine ends with subsequent loss, rear flap detached and lacking, yellowing to acetate; ex libris bookplate of George Cukor to front pastedown.
A scarce deluxe copy of Oliver Messel. Stage Designs and Costumes, a book which illustrates the masks, costumes and set designs created by Messel in the first decade of his career. The majority of the designs featured are for Helen (1932), The Miracle (1932; starring Tilly Losch and Diana Cooper), and Cochran's 1930 & 1931 Revues, all of which were produced by C.B. Cochran. This copy is from the deluxe edition of 50 copies, bound in full velllum, printed on hand-made paper and with two additional colour plates; signed by Oliver Messel and James Laver. Also inscribed by Messel to the director George Cukor - 'and interior decorations gratis. For George from Oliver 1935.' In 1935 Messel was working on the set and costume designs for Cukor's upcoming film of Romeo and Juliet (1936). With Cukor's attractive ex libris book plate by Paul Landacre.
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