Reveries of Childhood and Youth

Dublin: Cuala Press, 1915. First edition. Hardcover. Cloth. Cloth spine, paper pastedown on boards. Slipcase: quarter morocco. Fine/fine. No. 289 of 425 limitation. Besides this copy being a beautiful example of the limited first edition, it was notably from the library of actor, Kenneth MacKenna, and his wife, Mary, and contains the bookplate of Kenneth MacKenna. The set comes with a short note on stationary written by Mary MacKenna to James Frasher, to whom she gave the book as a gift. Kenneth MacKenna (1899-1962) was a well-known actor and film director, as well as the brother of Jo Mielziner. He was married first to film star Kay Francis and then to Mary Philips, who had been the first wife of Humphrey Bogart. Kenneth, Mary and Bogart had met while they were all performing in the play, "Nerves", in 1924. Among the many theatrical accomplishments of the MacKennas, they were the original angels of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, "South Pacific". 8vo. 21.5 by 15 cm. 128 pp. Condition: Slipcase has two raw gouges on spine, plus a few minor rub spots, perhaps more pronounced on lower spine tip. A few light dings along opening edge. Principal book itself has light brown staining, if it is staining, on free endpapers. Otherwise the book is easily in fine condition. Green dust jacket extremely well-preserved. Small side portfolio which contains accompanying plates has very light staining on both its spine cloth and its paper pastedown but none of this is disconcerting. A beautiful set, with the additional slipcase, which was not part of the original issue, the only piece with a significant condition issue, and this can be rectified or greatly mitigated, and is worth retaining regardless.