60 Great Books - 45 - Bauman Rare Books An Extraordinary Presentation/Association Copy: Signed Limited First Edition Of Porgy And Bess, Signed By George And Ira Gershwin And Dubose Heyward, Additionally Inscribed In The Year Of Publication By Gershwin To His Lover And Collaborator In This Piece, Kay Swift 43. GERSHWIN, George. Porgy and Bess. An Opera in Three Acts. New York, 1935. Folio, original full red morocco gilt, custom clamshell box. $48,500. Deluxe limited edition of the piano-vocal score of Porgy and Bess, one of only 250 copies signed by George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, and director Rouben Mamoulian, additionally inscribed by Gershwin to his lover Kay Swift, who was intimately involved in the composition of the piece: “For Kay—Best—George, Nov. 1 1935.” According to biographer Vicki Ohl, “best,” their code word for “love,” allowed them to be discreet. Gershwin’s only opera was based on the novel Porgy by DuBose Heyward, who also wrote the libretto. “Though of course I will try to keep my own style moving in the opera,” Gershwin wrote, “the Negro flavor will be predominant throughout.” Gershwin gathered background and inspiration by living in South Carolina, where he heard and admired African-American street cries, spirituals, and folk songs. Enormously popular from its first production, Porgy and Bess was surrounded by controversy. Today, Porgy and Bess is widely considered to be Gershwin’s masterpiece. Interior fine, spine somewhat toned, light rubbing to spine ends. A near-fine copy with an extraordinary association.
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