Preston Sturges — Strictly Dishonorable

New York, Horace Liveright, 1929 . First edition. Cloth. An exceptional copy of the first edition of Preston Sturges's humorous hit play, 'Strictly Dishonorable', in the original dust wrapper. Theatre critic Clive Herschhorn's personal copy. The first edition, first printing of this work. In the publisher's original unclipped dust wrapper. Illustrated with a frontispiece. The first edition of Preston Sturges's romantic comedy play about Isabelle, a naive Southern belle visiting New York, and Henry, her controlling fiancé. At an Italian speakeasy, Isabelle falls for a charming, womanizing opera star named Gus.  The play is set during the prohibition. From the library of Clive Hirschhorn, theatre critic at the Sunday Express from 1966 to 1995, and a noted book collector of 20th century authors, with his collection including all the major works of Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Steinbeck and others. With Clive's characteristic inscription with his date of acquisition to the upper corner of the front pastedown.  In the publisher's original cloth binding, with unclipped dust wrapper. Boards vibrant, with back strip a touch age toned and minor rubbing to back strip head. Pencil inscription to front pastedown. Dust wrapper wraps bright with back strip age toned. Light tide marks to back strip, with minor loss to back strip tail. Small closed tear to front wrap head. Small closed tears to fold over front flyleaf. To dust wrapper reverse, tape reinforcements to back strip head, fold over front flyleaf, and head and tail of rear flyleaf fold. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Near Fine . Ill.: Not Stated. Near Fine/Very Good Indeed.