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Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (Original photograph album compiled by a musician touring with the orchestra in support of the 1925 film, September 1926 through April 1927)
by Lew Wallace (novel); Fred Niblo (director); June Mathis (screenwriter); Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman, May McAvoy (starring)
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
N.p.: N.p., 1927. Vintage photograph album containing 65 photographs compiled by cellist Carl Steppi between 1926 and 1927, documenting a tour with an orchestra in support of the 1925 film. A unique collection of vernacular photographs, many with manuscript captions in English and German. Steppi is identified in contemporary newspaper articles as having been a cellist for the St. Louis Symphony in the early 1920s.
The tour was apparently by rail, as the archive includes several photographs of the assembled musicians outside train cars and one photograph of the musicians in a passenger car. The dates of the tour are noted on the album's first blank leaf, captioned with "On the Road with the Picture 'Ben Hur' (Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation) / September 1926." The album's last leaf bears a photograph of (presumably) Steppi's wife and child, captioned "Und endlich Kam die ersehnte Heimhehr! [And finally the longed-for Homecoming!] / Brooklyn, N.Y. / Back in: April 24, 1927."
The many locations captioned in the photographs are: Illinois (Dixon, Rochelle, and Rock Island), Iowa (Anamosa, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Des Moines, Grinnell, and Muskatine), Kansas (Wichita), Missouri (Kansas City and Hannibal), Ohio (Zanesville), Texas (Austin, Dallas, and Gainesville), and West Virginia (Charleston and Huntington), with Gainesville incorrectly noted as being in Oklahoma.
Jewish prince Ben-Hur is sent to prison at the behest of his childhood friend Messala as a result of a mishap during a Roman parade. Through sheer will, the prince endures prison and, once released, vows revenge on his childhood friend. The most expensive silent film made, with a budget of $3.9 million.
Shot on location in Italy and California.
Album: 10 x 6.75 inches, 30 pages. Very Good, with paper tape repairs to the front and rear partially detached wrappers, and with light chipping overall to the album leaves, with eight leaves detached.
Photographs: approximately 3 x 2 to 6 x 4 inches. Near Fine overall.
National Film Registry. Godard, Histoires de cinema.
The tour was apparently by rail, as the archive includes several photographs of the assembled musicians outside train cars and one photograph of the musicians in a passenger car. The dates of the tour are noted on the album's first blank leaf, captioned with "On the Road with the Picture 'Ben Hur' (Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation) / September 1926." The album's last leaf bears a photograph of (presumably) Steppi's wife and child, captioned "Und endlich Kam die ersehnte Heimhehr! [And finally the longed-for Homecoming!] / Brooklyn, N.Y. / Back in: April 24, 1927."
The many locations captioned in the photographs are: Illinois (Dixon, Rochelle, and Rock Island), Iowa (Anamosa, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, Davenport, Des Moines, Grinnell, and Muskatine), Kansas (Wichita), Missouri (Kansas City and Hannibal), Ohio (Zanesville), Texas (Austin, Dallas, and Gainesville), and West Virginia (Charleston and Huntington), with Gainesville incorrectly noted as being in Oklahoma.
Jewish prince Ben-Hur is sent to prison at the behest of his childhood friend Messala as a result of a mishap during a Roman parade. Through sheer will, the prince endures prison and, once released, vows revenge on his childhood friend. The most expensive silent film made, with a budget of $3.9 million.
Shot on location in Italy and California.
Album: 10 x 6.75 inches, 30 pages. Very Good, with paper tape repairs to the front and rear partially detached wrappers, and with light chipping overall to the album leaves, with eight leaves detached.
Photographs: approximately 3 x 2 to 6 x 4 inches. Near Fine overall.
National Film Registry. Godard, Histoires de cinema.
Synopsis
A bestseller since 1880...The classic saga of the Roman EmpireFrom a thrilling sea battle to its famous chariot race to the agony of the Crucifixion, this is the epic tale of a prince who became a slave and by a twist of fate and his own skill-won a chance at freedom.
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Details
- Seller
- Royal Books, Inc.
(US)
- Seller's Inventory #
- 160884
- Title
- Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (Original photograph album compiled by a musician touring with the orchestra in support of the 1925 film, September 1926 through April 1927)
- Author
- Lew Wallace (novel); Fred Niblo (director); June Mathis (screenwriter); Ramon Novarro, Francis X. Bushman, May McAvoy (starring)
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- N.p.
- Place of Publication
- N.p.
- Date Published
- 1927
- Keywords
- Film Ephemera | Photographs | Vernacular Photography | Musicians | 1920s Cinema | Films with Literary Sources | Silent Film | Adventure | Religion and Spirituality | Women Screenwriters | National Film Registry
- Bookseller catalogs
- Film Ephemera; Adventure; Religion and Spirituality; Photographs; National Film Registry;
Terms of Sale
Royal Books, Inc.
If you have questions about a book, feel free to call us anytime at 410-366-7329. Mailing address: Royal Books / 32 West 25th Street / Baltimore, MD / 21218. We accept VISA/MC/AMEX/DISCOVER, check or money order, and PayPal (ID is mail@royalbooks.com).
All books noted as First Editions are also First Printings unless indicated otherwise. All books are guaranteed to be as described, and may be returned at any time for any reason for a full refund, including return postage. Libraries, institutions, and accredited dealers can be sent books with invoice.About the Seller
Royal Books, Inc.
Biblio member since 2007
Baltimore, Maryland
About Royal Books, Inc.
We are members of ABAA and ILAB, and specialize in First Editions of Modern Literature, Crime Fiction, Science Fiction, Music, Photography, Art, and Cinema. You may search our entire stock, get directions, or view our newest arrivals by catalog or category by going to our easy-to-use catalog homepage:
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We are an open shop located in the midtown section of Baltimore. Check our website for directions if you are coming through the Baltimore area. We are open 10AM-6PM EST, Monday through Friday. You may email an order at any time, 24 hours a day.
www.royalbooks.com
We are an open shop located in the midtown section of Baltimore. Check our website for directions if you are coming through the Baltimore area. We are open 10AM-6PM EST, Monday through Friday. You may email an order at any time, 24 hours a day.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- Leaves
- Very generally, "leaves" refers to the pages of a book, as in the common phrase, "loose-leaf pages." A leaf is a single sheet...
- Chipping
- A defect in which small pieces are missing from the edges; fraying or small pieces of paper missing the edge of a paperback, or...
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