Samson Raphaelson — Jason

New York, Random House, 1942. First edition. Cloth. The first edition of a critically acclaimed Broadway comedy written by an influential American screenwriter. The first edition of Jason, a Broadway comedy, written by American playwright and established screenwriter Samson Raphaelson. In the publisher's original red cloth, in the original unclipped dust wrapper. Despite not being as commerically successful as Broadway hits Skylark and Accent on Youth, Jason, a comedy about an isolated critic, was very popular with critics, being particularly applauded for its characters. Raphaelson was most famous as a film writer, working on the Hitchcock classic Suspiscion and The Jazz Singer, the first talking picture. From the theatrical collection of Clive Hirschhorn, theatre critic for the Sunday Express from 1966 to 1993. Known for his witty and thorough reviews, features and interviews, Hirschhorn also authored several works on the film industry, including his critically acclaimed biographies of Hollywood stars, Gene Kelly and James Mason.  A renowned book collector, the majority of works from Hirschhorn"s incredible library of theatre-related material have a characteristic pencil inscription with his date of acquisition to the upper corner of the paste down. In the publisher's original red cloth, in the original unclipped dust wrapper. Externally, very smart, with minor fading to edges, and small knocks to the head and tail of the spine, and to the extremities. Dust wrapper is bright and clean, with a small graze to the front fly leaf. A significant chip to the top of rear fly leaf, and a grazed tear to bottom of rear flyleaf. End papers are mostly bright and clean with faint offsetting. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed/Good.