[Item #3610] Celebrities: In Memory of Margaret Dumont, Dowager of the Marx Brothers Movies (1890-1965). Robert Peters.
Celebrities: In Memory of Margaret Dumont, Dowager of the Marx Brothers Movies (1890-1965)
Celebrities: In Memory of Margaret Dumont, Dowager of the Marx Brothers Movies (1890-1965)
Celebrities: In Memory of Margaret Dumont, Dowager of the Marx Brothers Movies (1890-1965)

Celebrities: In Memory of Margaret Dumont, Dowager of the Marx Brothers Movies (1890-1965)

Berkeley, CA: Sombre Reptiles, 1981. Limited First Edition. Sewn Wrappers. Inscribed & signed by Robert Peters. A collection of four poems by Robert Peters (1924-2014), the great American poet, playwright, critic & scholar. Here he is at his humorously surreal, viscerally descriptive best in these poems about Gertrude Stein, Robert Mitchum, the Academy Awards ceremony & Marlene Dietrich- from the sui generis Peters perspective. Margaret Dumont, Groucho Marx's favorite foil, is the dedicatee of the collection with her image on label affixed to front cover, though she is not among the poems' celebrity subjects or illustrations within. Hand-sewn chapbook with several fold-out sections, a beautiful production designed & illustrated by Mary Ann Hayden. As noted in colophon, this is one of 140 (un-numbered) copies printed during January 1981. On otherwise blank inner front cover, Peters has hand-inscribed & signed: "For Howard and Daniel-/ with love/ & for your speedy, speedy/ recovery, Howard./ (signed) Bob Peters/ (small drawing of a flower-flourish)." A very rare & delightful Peters collectible, especially with this warm inscription. In fine condition with only very slight rubbing, sparse spotting to front, back covers & sewn spine; light wear & a few tiny bumps, creases at edges & corners of same; series of three very small, non-penetrating dimples at/near upper right edge of front cover; another series with tiny pinhole, very small closed tear at mid-left edge of back cover. Interior fine with very-light-to-moderate water(?) stains at small, blank areas at/near upper corners & edges of some pages; occasional very small spots at blank areas of a few of same. Fine. [Item #3610]

Price: $40.00