Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6

London After Midnight by Marie Coolidge Rask, Photoplay Edition, 1928

$2,250
£1,700.72
€1,954.43
CA$3,133.11
A$3,485.46
CHF 1,827.12
MX$42,591.44
NOK 23,266.10
SEK 21,901.82
DKK 14,589.09
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

Presented is a photoplay first edition of London After Midnight by Marie Coolidge Rask. This printing was published by Grosset & Dunlap, in New York, in 1928. The book has been beautifully rebound in striking ¼ green leather and cloth boards, with raised bands and gilt stamps and tiles to the spine, and a matching green archival slipcase. The book is illustrated with eight stills from the original silent film. One of the most collectible Grosset & Dunlap photoplay editions, this book was a novelization of the 1927 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer mystery horror film of the same title, co-produced and directed by Tod Browning. The movie starred Lon Chaney in a dual role of Scotland Yard Inspector and vampire; this was his only movie role as a vampire. Due to the success of the film, Marie Coolidge Rask penned the novelization of the movie. Rask worked from Tod Browning’s screenplay as well as the original source material, Browning’s short story "The Hypnotist.” The book was published by Grosset & Dunlap in 1928 and included eight stills from the silent film. The last known copy of the film was destroyed in the 1965 MGM vault fire, along with hundreds of other rare early films, making it one of the most sought-after “lost” silent films. Copies of the film have never surfaced. This 1928 book is therefore important and collectible, as it is one of the few remaining records of the film’s content and storyline. Alexander Grosset and George T. Dunlap first met while working for the American Publishers Corporation. In 1898, Grosset & Dunlap formed a new partnership with the goal to shift the focus of the publishing industry from expensive books for the few to inexpensive books for the masses. In order to avoid paying royalties and other publishing fees, Grosset & Dunlap started reprinting books that were already in print. With these profits, the partners purchased paperbound books in bulk to rebind them in cloth and resell. As the company grew, Grosset & Dunlap were able to purchase reprint rights from publishers before publication, including reprint rights from Edward Stratemeyer for the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. Though it was primarily a reprint house, some notable first editions were published by Grosset & Dunlap, including King Kong, the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, and Fran Striker’s Lone Ranger series. CONDITION: Very good condition. Octavo. Beautifully rebound in striking ¼ green leather and cloth boards, with raised bands and gilt stamps and tiles to the spine, and a matching green archival slipcase. Interior pages are healthy, with only light time toning. The book is illustrated with eight stills from the original silent film. Book Dimensions: 7 3/4"H x 5 3/8"W x 1 5/8"D. Slipcase Dimensions: 8 1/8"H x 5 5/8"W x 2"D.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 8.13 in (20.66 cm)Width: 5.38 in (13.67 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Style:
    Art Deco (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Leather,Paper,Embossed,Gilt
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
    1980-1989
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1982
  • Condition:
    Additions or alterations made to the original: Rebound and new slipcase by Felton Bookbinding Ltd., in Ontario, Canada, in October of 2023. Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Colorado Springs, CO
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BK09611stDibs: LU909737087572

More From This Seller

View All
King Kong by Delos W. Lovelace, First Photoplay Edition, 1932
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Lovelace, Delos W. King Kong. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 1932. 8vo. Rebound in 1/4 green leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt stamps, and gilt titles to spine. New matching archival slipcase. Presented is a first edition of Delos W. Lovelace’s adaptation of King Kong. This printing was published by Grosset & Dunlap, in New York, in December of 1932, just months before the March 1933 film premiere of King Kong. The book has been beautifully rebound in handsome ¼ green leather and cloth boards, with raised bands and gilt stamps and tiles to the spine, and a matching green archival slipcase. RKO producer Merian Cooper and writer Edgar Wallace originally conceived of the story about a remote island inhabited by a huge silverback gorilla, among other creatures. After Wallace’s untimely death, the thrilling screenplay was finished by James A. Creelman and Ruth Rose. Just as the RKO film of King Kong was finishing production, Cooper asked his friend Delos Lovelace to adapt the film's screenplay into a novelization. On the novel’s cover, Lovelace’s name was overshadowed by the phrase, “conceived by Edgar Wallace and Merian C. Cooper.” The Grosset & Dunlap book was published later that month, on December 27, and served as part of the film’s advance marketing campaign. The book would go on to see numerous reprints, furthering King Kong's status as a cultural phenomenon. Alexander Grosset and George T...
Category

Vintage 1930s American Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

The History of the Discovery and Settlement of America by W. Robertson, 1835
By William Robertson
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Robertson, William, Frost, John. The History of the Discovery and Settlement of America, With an Account of His Life and Writings, To which are added Questions for the Examination of...
Category

Antique 1830s American Early Victorian Books

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Paper

Journals of the First and Second Continental Congress, by R. Aitken, Vol I, 1776
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Journals of Congress. Containing the Proceedings From Sept. 5. 1774. to Jan. 1. 1776. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by R. Aitken, 1777. Volume I. First Edition. 8vo. Rebound in ¼ br...
Category

Antique 1770s American American Colonial Books

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Paper

The Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, Illustrated, 1931
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Defoe, Daniel. The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures Robinson Crusoe of York, Mariner, as related by Himself. London: Humphrey Milford, 1931. Embe...
Category

Vintage 1930s English Books

Materials

Paper

Eminent Americans by Benson J. Lossing, Illustrated, 1890
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Lossing, Benson J. Eminent Americans: Comprising Brief Biographies of Leading Statesmen, Patriots, Orators and Others, Men and Women, Who Have Made American History. New York: John W...
Category

Antique 1890s American American Classical Books

Materials

Leather, Fabric, Paper

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, Signed by Carla Laemmle, Photoplay
By Gaston Leroux
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Leroux, Gaston. The Phantom of the Opera. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, [1925]. Illustrated by Andre Castaigne. Signed by actress Carla Laemmle. 8vo. Rebound in black 1/.4 leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt stamps, and gilt titles to spine. New matching archival slipcase. Presented is a photoplay edition of Gaston Leroux’s best-known novel, The Phantom of the Opera. This printing was published by Grosset & Dunlap, in New York, in 1925, to accompany the 1925 Universal Pictures film adaptation starring Lon Channey. It is illustrated throughout with scenes from that production, as well as with illustrations by Andre Castaigne. Additionally, the book is signed on the full title page by actress and prima ballerina Carla Leammle. The book has been beautifully rebound in handsome ¼ black leather and black cloth boards, with raised bands and gilt stamps and tiles to the spine, and a matching black archival slipcase. Partly inspired by historical, nineteenth century events that took place at the famous Paris Opera, the novel chronicles the masked Phantom’s obsessive love for a young chorus girl named Christine. The Phantom of the Opera was first published as a serial in the French Magazine Le Gaulois from September 1909 to January 1910. It was released in volume form in late March 1910 by Pierre Lafitte & Cie. The first American edition was published by Bobbs-Merrill in 1911. Due to its popularity, The Phantom of the Opera became the source for numerous adaptations, including the 1925 Universal Pictures film starring Lon Chaney and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony Award-winning 1986 musical. Alexander Grosset and George T. Dunlap first met while working for the American Publishers Corporation. In 1898, Grosset & Dunlap formed a new partnership with the goal to shift the focus of the publishing industry from expensive books for the few to inexpensive books for the masses. In order to avoid paying royalties and other publishing fees, Grosset & Dunlap started reprinting books that were already in print. With these profits, the partners purchased paperbound books in bulk to rebind them in cloth and resell. As the company grew, Grosset & Dunlap were able to purchase reprint rights from publishers before publication, including reprint rights from Edward Stratemeyer for the Hardy Boys...
Category

Vintage 1920s American Books

Materials

Leather, Paper

You May Also Like

Spielmann & Jerrold, Hugh Thomson His Art, First Edition 1931 in a Fine Binding!
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
Author: SPIELMANN, M. H. & Walter Jerrold. Title: Hugh Thomson His Art His Letters His Humour And His Charm. Publisher: London: A. & C. Black, Ltd., 1931. Description: Firs...
Category

Vintage 1930s British Books

Materials

Leather

Kitton, Frederic G.-Dickens and His Illustrators-in a Fine Leather Binding
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
Author: Kitton, Frederic G. Title: Dickens and His Illustrators. Publisher: London: George Redway, 1899. Description: Second edition. 1 vol., small folio, 11-3/8" x 9-3/8", ...
Category

Antique 1890s Books

Materials

Leather

Edgar Allan Poe, 'Edmund Dulac', The Bells & Other Poems. 1ST TRADE EDITION 1912
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
Author: POE, Edgar Allan ( Edmund Dulac ). Title: The Bells and Other Poems. Publisher: London: Hodder and Stoughton, n.d., (1912). FIRST TRADE ...
Category

Vintage 1910s British Books

Materials

Leather

Carroll, Rackham, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Limited Edition, 1907
Located in Hillsborough, NJ
AUTHOR: DODGSON, Charles L. (Lewis Carroll) (Arthur Rackham). TITLE: Alice's Adventures In Wonderland. PUBLISHER: London: William Heinemann, 1907. DESCRIPTION: LIMITED EDIT...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Books

Materials

Leather

L'Annonciateur by Auguste Villiers de L'Isle-Adam – in special Art-Deco binding
Located in Middletown, NY
A rare and stunning binding sculpted in the Art-Nouveau style by Louis Déze, and illustrating the themes of the work. From the library of the eminent French bibliophile Guy Bigorie. ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Books

Materials

Gold Leaf

Design-For-Today, Rare Modernist Magazine, Complete Bound Set, 1933 to 1935, UK
Located in London, Fitzrovia
Design-For-Today, a short lived modernist avant-garde magazine, 1933 to 1935, UK. A rare and hard to come by complete bound set. Articles, images, designs by British architects and designers, as well as emigres ones . Gerald Summers, Wells Coates, Marcel Breuer, Alvar and Aino Aalto, Walter Gropius, László Moholy-Nagy, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Ben Nicholson, Betty Joel, Serge Chermayeff, Keith Murray, Charles Boyton, Ronald Grierson...
Category

20th Century British International Style Books

Materials

Paper