inscriptions, notes, & marks
This collection of one-of-a-kind books features charming inscriptions to Steve from luminaries such as Leslie Briccuse, Apex, and Will Shortz, Steve’s notations, or markings from use.
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They Laughed When I Sat Down
SOLD - Filled with wonderful illustrations and stories about the history of advertising and beloved brands, this oversized book was gifted to Steve in the fall of 1966 by “Leslie”. A Sondheim “expert” and long-time friend of Steve, told me via email that, given the period, this was Leslie Bricusse, a multiple Tony and Oscar winner. Bricusse, often in tandem with the great Anthony Newley, penned timeless classics such as The Candy Man, Pure Imagination, What Kind of Fool Am I, and Who Can I Turn To? He also wrote musicals that include Stop The World I Want to Get Off, Pickwick, Goodbye Mr. Chips, and others. The signature is a dead match for Bricusse signatures available online. Price: $2,500.00. Click for purchase info.
Brain Games 3
SOLD - Will Shortz, born August 26, 1952, is an American puzzle creator and, since 1993, has been the crossword editor for The New York Times. Mr. Sondheim’s passion, even obsession, with puzzles and games is legendary. He even created crosswords for The Times for a short period. Will’s puzzle book, Brain Gamers 3, is inscribed, “To Stephen Sondheim with best wishes, Will Shortz”. Price: $2,000.00. Click for purchase info.
Medical Crossword Puzzles
Patricia Sinnott was Steve’s secretary during this time period. Her inscription, dated 3/22/80, Steve’s 50th birthday, reads, “Peeking at the answers is forbidden. You have the next half century to complete these. Patricia, M.D.* *Merck Disciple” SOLD
The Azed Book of Crosswords
SOLD - Edited by Jonathan Crowther, this book of puzzle master Azed’s crosswords features a number of penciled notes and “played” puzzles. It’s a safe bet that the notes and and partially completed puzzles are Mr. Sondheim’s work. Price: $2,000.00. Click for purchase info.
The ABC of Cross-Words
Born in Manchester, England in 1917, Alec Robins was a major influence in the establishment of ground rules for cryptic crosswords, one of Steve’s passions. A cryptic crossword is a puzzle in which each clue is a word puzzle in and of itself. His gift to Steve is inscribed, “Best wishes to Stephen Sondheim from Alec Robins 13 July 1986” Price: 1,500.00. Click for purchase info.
A Century of Charades
SOLD - A Century of Charades is a collection of word puzzle games, written by William Bellamy and published in 1894. The book contains 100 “charades”, each consisting of a series of clues that, when combined, form a word or phrase. The book includes a number of solutions to puzzles penciled around and about the charades. I cannot confirm that it is Steve’s writing, but it is most certainly Steve’s book.
A Second Century of Charades
SOLD - A Second Century of Charades is the followup collection of word puzzle games written by William Bellamy and published in 1896. Many of the puzzles are check marked. Again, I cannot confirm it is Steve’s writing, but it is Steve’s book.
The Hamlyn Book of Crosswords I
SOLD - A remarkable inscription! Apex is the pseudonym of Eric Chalkley, a professional carpenter an cryptic crossword creator from Croydon, born in England on Boxing Day in 1917. Apex’s puzzles were published in The Listener, Games and Puzzles, The Guardian, and The Times. In 1978 his work was published in this book, The Hamlyn Book of Crosswords 1, “…a popular compendium which brought together four of the world's top crossword puzzlers, Apex, Duck, Jude, and Smokey.” Apex’s gift to Steve offers this cryptic inscription, “To_______ One of the first to see American in Cinerama broadcasting the most original of his poems ‘Send in the _________.’ (7, 8) With very best wishes from Apex June 1978.” A very special book on so many levels. Price: $2,000.00. Click for purchase info.
The Listener Crossword
SOLD - The Times Listener Crossword is a themed cryptic crossword puzzle that has been published in The Times newspaper in the UK every Saturday since 1991. Steve’s copy features checked off clues and two played puzzles.
The Torquemada Puzzle Book
SOLD - Edward Powys Mathers, known as Torquemada, published 670 famously difficult crossword puzzles in The Observer up until his death in 1939. This book, owned by Steve, features notes on a number of the pages.
Steve’s Bookmark
SOLD - It was tucked into one of the many crossword books. The Gotham Book Mart was a famous Midtown Manhattan bookstore and cultural landmark that operated from 1920 to 2007. The business was located first in a small basement space on West 45th Street near the Theater District, then moved to 51 West 47th Street, then spent many years within the Diamond District, before finally moving to 16 East 46th Street. Beyond merely selling books, the store virtually functioned as a literary salon, hosting meetings of the Finnegans Wake Society, the James Joyce Society, poetry and author readings, art exhibits, and more. It was known for its distinctive sign above the door created by artist John Held, Jr., which read, "Wise Men Fish Here"— From Wikipedia The bookmark features a graphic by Edward Gorey, an American author, illustrator, playwright, set and costume designer (1925-2000). According to a friend of Steve, Sondheim bought his Gorey first editions from Andreas Brown at Gotham.
Magic Squares and Cubes
SOLD - This older puzzle book features a few pages of scribbles as well as a hand-drawn attempt to solve one the of puzzles.