• A hardcover book titled 'Gloria Swanson' authored by Richard M. Hudson and Raymond Lee, featuring a black and white photograph of Gloria Swanson on the cover.
1 17

Gloria Swanson by Richard M. Hudson & Raymond Lee (Signed First Edition), 1970 ⭐🎬🎭

Gloria Swanson by Richard M. Hudson & Raymond Lee (Signed First Edition), 1970 ⭐🎬🎭

$325.00
$325.00
Sale Sold out

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare, personally signed, first edition of Gloria Swanson, a comprehensive and stunning pictorial tribute to the iconic silent film star. The book delves into Swanson's life and career, from her origins in slapstick comedies to her transformation into a living symbol of glamour. Published in 1970, this book is a significant historical document and a premier acquisition for any collector of film history, silent cinema, or Americana.

This edition is a tangible connection to Hollywood's golden age. Its historical significance and personal inscription make this a highly desirable piece, and a genuine collector's item due to its:

  • Signed first edition status, representing a pivotal moment in film history.

  • Personal inscription from the author, which makes it a one-of-a-kind artifact.

  • Extensive photographic content, which provides a rich visual history of Gloria Swanson's life.

 

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

This book is a deep dive into the life and career of Gloria Swanson, providing an intimate look into her experiences in Hollywood, her relationships, and her remarkable transition from a silent film legend to a more complex figure in modern cinema. The book is based on extensive research and a vast collection of motion picture material.

The biography is a fantastic resource for understanding her life and career. It is enhanced by:

  • Over 500 photographs, which provide a rich visual history of Swanson's life.

  • Detailed synopses of 66 of her movies, offering a comprehensive overview of her work.

  • A direct link to Hollywood's golden era and a deep dive into the lives of the legends who shaped it.

 

3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️✨

Richard M. Hudson was a Hollywood film historian and collector of motion picture material for over 15 years. His work is known for its extensive use of gloss photographs and his meticulous research.

Raymond Lee was also a leading film historian and an ex-child star who began writing plays, radio scripts, and short stories after retiring from acting in 1936. He served in the Air Corps during World War II and later became the editor of Offbeat Magazine. Their collaboration on this book showcases their commitment to preserving Hollywood's past.

 

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1970, this book is an artifact of a period of growing interest in the early days of cinema and the legends who shaped it. It was released at a time when there was a new generation of film historians and critics who sought to understand and document the experiences of the silent film stars who had come before them.

The book serves as a "time capsule" of mid-20th-century American social and political thought. It captures the spirit of an era when individual expression and personal narratives were highly valued, and provides an honest look at the lives of a community that was often overlooked by mainstream culture.

 

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for a curator of modern film history, a scholar of silent cinema, or a private collector of unique signed artifacts. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who values a book's dual significance as a foundational historical document and a personal artifact of its time.

The book appeals to a collector who is interested in the intersection of:

  • Film history, biography, and fine press publishing.

  • The enduring legacy of a courageous and visionary artist.

  • Hollywood's golden age and the legends who shaped it.

 

6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a rare, signed first edition from 1970, this book is a uniquely scarce asset. The value is a direct reflection of the book's rarity, its historical significance, and its condition for an item of its age. The book's provenance is significantly enhanced by a personal inscription from the author, Richard M. Hudson.

The book's worth is enhanced by:

  • Verifiable Provenance: The book has a personal inscription from the author, Richard M. Hudson, which is dated June 1970.

  • Historical Context: This book is a primary source for film historians and scholars, making it an intellectually valuable piece.

  • Physical Condition: The book's well-preserved state, including its dust jacket, further justifies its premium price.

 

7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This volume is a well-preserved piece showing authentic wear consistent with its age from the late 20th century. The original dust jacket shows some wear, including rubbing, creasing, and small tears. The pages show some age toning, but the text and photographs remain clear and readable.

  • Binding: The book is a hardcover with a purple cloth binding. It has a tight and sound binding and a clean interior.

  • Dust Jacket: The dust jacket shows visible wear and tear, including rubbing and scuffing, and a price tag of $8.50 on the front flap.

  • Interior: The pages are clean and free of any marks or stains. The binding is tight and sound.

  • Signature: The book has a personal inscription from the author, Richard M. Hudson, in purple ink on the front endpaper.

 

8. Gloria Swanson: A Career Retrospective 🎬🎥🌟

  • Male and Female (1919): In this film, Swanson starred in a key scene where she posed with a lion as the "Lion's Bride".

  • Beyond the Rocks (1922): This film co-starred Swanson with her longtime friend and fellow actor, Rudolph Valentino.

  • Sadie Thompson (1927): This film was based on a controversial story about a prostitute, and garnered Swanson her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

  • Sunset Boulevard (1950): In this iconic film, Swanson played Norma Desmond, a faded silent actress living in a delusional world. Her performance earned her a third Academy Award nomination.

  • Airport 1975 (1974): This was Swanson’s final screen appearance, where she played herself in her first color film.

 

9. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

  • This specific copy of the book has a bookstore tag from Larry Edmunds Bookshop, Inc. Hollywood, CA on the front endpaper, a legendary Hollywood bookstore, which adds to its provenance.

  • The author's inscription is a personal note to "Phyllis" from "Dick Hudson," a detail that makes this book a unique, one-of-a-kind historical artifact.

  • Gloria Swanson was an early health food advocate and a vegetarian who was known for bringing her own meals in a tin box to public functions.

  • She had a wide range of interests beyond acting, including painting and sculpting, and she even ran a company for inventions and patents called Multiprises.

  • Swanson had two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One for motion pictures and one for television.

  • She made a notable appearance in a 1966 episode of The Beverly Hillbillies, where she played herself, starring in a silent film.

  • The film Sunset Boulevard used footage from Swanson’s own silent film Queen Kelly, which was never completed in its original form.

  • Swanson’s autobiography, Swanson on Swanson, was ghostwritten by her sixth husband, William Dufty, who also authored the popular health book, Sugar Blues.

 

10. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

  • Title: Gloria Swanson

  • Author/Maker: Richard M. Hudson and Raymond Lee

  • Year: 1970

  • Publisher/Foundry: A. S. Barnes and Co., Inc.

  • Place of Origin: Cranbury, New Jersey, USA

  • Format/Binding: Hardcover with Dust Jacket

  • Edition: First Edition

  • Rarity: Rare with Inscription

  • Transcription:

    Dear Phyllis- I hope you enjoy this small part of a famous Hollywood history as much as I did writing it. Your friend, Dick Hudson June 1970

View full details