Maugham, W. Somerset (1874-1965). The Sacred Flame. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1928.

8vo. Original black cloth, printed paper spine and cover labels (few faint spots to covers); dust jacket (extremities toned, spine ends chipped with losses, partly affecting letters near lower edge of front panel). Provenance: Messmore Kendal (1872-1959), American producer (notation on front panel "personal copy"); Lighthouse Books (note laid in, see below); Craig V. Showalter (bookplate).

THE DEDICATION COPY.

FIRST EDITION, SIGNED BY MAUGHAM on the dedication page. In a note laid in, bookseller Lighthouse Books describes purchasing this title from the widow of the son of Messmore Kendall: "During our transaction, she related that although both her husband and her father-in-law maintained large libraries, they considered these books to be among their most prized possessions." Kendall, the dedicatee, was a close friend of Maugham and his producer, who produced the New York production of The Letter in 1927, starring Katharine Cornell. In turn, Maugham dedicated his publication of The Sacred Flame. Stott A38a.

[With:] Another copy, first American edition. [With:] Another copy, first English edition. [With:] Original carbon playscript for: "A Play in Three Acts" (The Sacred Flame). [New York, ca 1928]. Original brad-bound wrappers, upper cover printed "Property of Charles Frohman, Inc., Empire Theatre, New York;" folding case. The play opened in New York in November 1928 presented by Messmore Kendall (dedicatee of the book, see above) and Gilbert Miller.

Selections of W. Somerset Maugham from the Collection of Craig V. Showalter

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Printed Books & Early American Photography, including Selections from the Larry Ness Collection

Maugham, W. Somerset (1874-1965). The Sacred Flame. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1928.

Printed Books & Early American Photography, including Selections from the Larry Ness Collection

Maugham, W. Somerset (1874-1965). The Sacred Flame. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, Doran & Company, 1928.

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