Gitele by Gussie Kimball (Signed, First Edition), 1960 📜✍️💖

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a first edition of Gitele by Gussie Kimball. Published in 1960 by Vantage Press, the book is an autobiography that documents themes of resilience and identity. Kimball, who was born in Poland and immigrated to the United States, uses the life of her protagonist to share her own journey.

This signed first edition with a dedication to her "adopted children Doris + Al" is a specific historical artifact. The volume documents a personal message of hope and provides a record of a woman's journey from a childhood in Poland to her life on Manhattan's East Side.

2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

Gitele tells the story of its protagonist's journey from a childhood in Poland to her life on Manhattan's East Side. The narrative is a story of "hard-won success" and "spiritual growth." The book's content provides a look into the emotional and intellectual life of an immigrant woman in the mid-20th century.

The book is a primary source for a scholar or a reader of women's history or autobiography. The book's front cover art, featuring a red-haired girl with a cityscape in the background, is a stylistic nod to mid-century book design.

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

Gussie Kimball was born in Poland and immigrated to the United States. Her childhood was spent on Manhattan's East Side. Kimball was a humanitarian who devoted her time to charitable causes, including the City of Hope, a medical center that focuses on cancer research and treatment.

The book is described by Louis Tabak, the then-President of the City of Hope, as Kimball's "inspiring autobiography." Her legacy is documented in her humanitarian efforts and her ability to tell her personal story in a way that provides hope and inspiration to her readers.

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1960, this book is a record of a period of social and political change in the United States. The 1950s and 60s saw a focus on the American immigrant experience, with writers exploring themes of identity and assimilation. Kimball’s book, a firsthand account of this journey, is a part of this conversation.

The book serves as a record of the transitional period between the post-war era and the social changes of the 1960s. 

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a curator of American autobiography, a scholar of women's history, or a private collector of modern literature. It is a suitable item for an individual who values a book's dual status as a historical document and a personal artifact.

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a signed first edition from 1960, this book is a scarce item. The book's value is derived from its market scarcity and its documented history as a work of American autobiography. 

The price is a direct reflection of its scarcity and its documented place in the history of American literature for an item that is 65 years old. 

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

 This copy shows wear consistent with a book from the mid-20th century.

• The binding is a hardcover with its original dust jacket.

• The book's structural integrity remains solid.

• The dust jacket has significant wear and a tear.

• The author's signature and inscription are clearly visible on the front endpaper.

• The pages have some expected discoloration, but the text remains clear and readable.

8. Translation of Inscriptions/Ephemera (Conditional) ✍️📜🔤

This book contains a personal inscription from the author. The inscription is written in blue ink on the inside front endpaper and reads:

• Transcription: "To my adopted children Doris + Al / God bless them / Love / Gussil"

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• Gussie Kimball was a humanitarian who devoted her time to the City of Hope.

• The book's dedication to "adapted children Doris + Al" adds a specific and verifiable dimension to its documented history.

• The book's publisher, Vantage Press, focused on self-published works.

• This book is an autobiography that provides a perspective on the immigrant experience in America.