Act One: An Autobiography

New York: Random House, 1959. First Edition. Near Fine/Very Good. First edition, first printing. Signed by Moss Hart on the half-title page and warmly inscribed to director George Cukor, whose art deco bookplate graces the front pastedown, "This book comes to you, dear George, with a great deal of admiration and affection. Always -- Moss. July 1959." [viii], 444 pp., endpapers and prelims printed in red and black on inclusion paper. Bound in publisher's flecked oatmeal cloth, gilt spine lettering blocked in red and black, black topstain. Near Fine with slight lean and rubbing to spine, light edgewear and toning to cloth, and slight bumping to corners. Front hinge overopened, pencil inscription "A Ha" to front pastedown and bookplate. In a Very Good unclipped dust jacket matching prelims, with light soiling, tanned spine panel, moderate edgewear and remnant of tape repair to verso, and penciled inscription as above to front flap. Hart was a highly successful playwright and theater director whose writing credits included You Can't Take It with You (1936), The Man Who Came to Dinner (1939), and the Judy Garland vehicle A Star is Born (1954). The latter was directed by George Cukor, an even bigger name in Hollywood and the director of numerous classics including The Philadelphia Story, Gaslight (from whence the recently popular phrase "gaslighting" comes), Dinner at Eight, and Little Women. The tenor of the two men's relationship is evinced by Hart's warm inscription. A nice association between two major figures in 20th-century American entertainment. (Inventory #: 140947710)