• A hardcover book titled 'Valentino' by Irving Shulman with a red and yellow cover, featuring an illustration of two individuals.
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Valentino by Irving Shulman (Signed First Edition with Inscription), 1967 🎬🕺🖤

Valentino by Irving Shulman (Signed First Edition with Inscription), 1967 🎬🕺🖤

$275.00
$275.00
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1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare, personally signed first edition of Valentino, an intimate look into the life of the silent film star Rudolph Valentino by biographer and novelist Irving Shulman. Published in 1967 by Trident Press, this book is a significant artifact of film history that explores Valentino's rise to fame, his personal relationships, and his legacy.

This book is a tangible link to a pivotal era in American film and publishing. Its value is significantly enhanced by a direct and personal inscription from the author, dated March 2, 1972. This unique inscription makes it a one-of-a-kind historical artifact.

 

2. About the Artwork/Book/Object 📖✍️✨

Valentino is a biographical novel that delves into the life of one of cinema's most celebrated and enigmatic figures. Drawing on extensive research, the book chronicles his life from his origins as Rodolpho Guglielmi in southern Italy to his rise as a Hollywood icon.

The book is a unique resource for scholars and collectors of film history. It provides an intimate look into Valentino's career and personal life, including:

  • His progression from a gigolo to a screen gaucho and a legendary love image.

  • His complex relationships and marriages.

  • The phenomenal impact of his fame and his legacy after his untimely death.

 

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

Irving Shulman (1913-1995) was a prolific American novelist and screenwriter. He is best known for his work in the genre of biographical fiction, and his work on this volume is a testament to his extensive research and professional writing style. Shulman was a master of the biographical novel, known for works like the novelization of West Side Story and a biography of Jean Harlow.

The book is a product of Shulman's lifelong interest in Valentino. His ability to blend historical fact with a compelling narrative made his work popular with a mass audience. This volume showcases his dedication to preserving the history of Hollywood's golden age.

 

4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1967, this book is an artifact of a period of renewed interest in the early days of cinema and the legends who shaped it. This book is a unique window into the history of Hollywood and the ways in which a new generation of writers and film historians sought to understand and document the experiences of the legends who came before them.

The book captures the spirit of an era when individual expression and personal narratives were highly valued. Its publication was a part of a cultural trend that revisited and redefined the iconic figures of the silent film era.

 

5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is for a curator of American 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 1967, 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, Irving Shulman.

The book's worth is enhanced by:

  • Verifiable Provenance: The book has a personal inscription from the author, Irving Shulman, which is dated March 2, 1972.

  • 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 copy is a well-preserved piece showing authentic wear of a cherished book from the mid-20th century. The binding is a hardcover with a dust jacket. The dust jacket has visible wear, including rubbing, creasing, and minor tears, which authenticates its long life.

  • Binding: The book is a hardcover with a plain light brown cloth binding. It has a tight and sound binding and a clean interior. The endpapers are a reddish-brown color.

  • Dust Jacket: The dust jacket shows visible wear and tear, including rubbing and scuffing. It has some small tears on the spine and a price tag on the top of 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, Irving Shulman, in black ink on the front endpaper.

 

8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

  • The book contains an inscription from the author to a recipient named Antonia Turner, thanking her for being "so patient & helpful in my dissertation crisis". This detail makes the book a unique, one-of-a-kind historical artifact.

  • The book was published by Trident Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, and was also published simultaneously in Canada.

  • The author, Irving Shulman, was a celebrated writer who had a unique insight into the world of Hollywood. He was known for works like the novelization of West Side Story.

  • The biography of Valentino follows his life from his origins as Rodolpho Guglielmi in southern Italy.

  • It is highly probable that the Valentino referenced in "Manic Monday" is the silent film actor Rudolph Valentino. The song was written by Prince and given to The Bangles. The lyrics of the first verse state, "I was kissin' Valentino by a crystal blue Italian stream".

    Here is an analysis of the reference:

    • Cultural Shorthand: Rudolph Valentino, who died in 1926, was a well-known silent film star and a major heartthrob of his era. Even decades after his death, his name remained a cultural shorthand for a handsome, romantic male figure, especially in the context of a passionate dream.

    • Thematic Connection: The Italian setting in the lyric ("Italian stream") directly evokes Valentino's heritage as an Italian actor born as Rodolfo Gugliemi. The dream sequence of kissing a classic heartthrob is a scenario that fits the persona of Rudolph Valentino, known as "The Latin Lover".

    • A Confirmed Reference: Multiple sources confirm that the lyrics refer to the silent film actor. The song's connection to an actor who died decades prior is considered a "strange point of reference," but it nonetheless solidifies the connection.

 

9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

  • Title: Valentino

  • Author/Maker: Irving Shulman

  • Year: 1967

  • Publisher/Foundry: Trident Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  • Place of Origin: New York, NY, USA

  • Format/Binding: Hardcover with Dust Jacket

  • Edition: First Edition

  • Rarity: Rare with Inscription

  • Transcription:

    March 2, 1972 To Antonia Turner- For being so patient & helpful in my dissertation crisis- [Signature of Irving Shulman] Irving Shulman

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