JEROME KERN (1885-1945)
Inscription to Harold Arlen on sheet music of The Last Time I Saw Paris. New York: Chappell & Co., 1940. First edition, inscribed on the cover in ink "For Anya and Harold/With affectionate greetings/ from their friend/Jerome Kern/December 1940." Original pictorial wrappers in red and blue with photograph of Kate Smith. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. 12 x 9 inches (31 x 22 cm); 5 pp. Some wear to edges and light soiling; Together with Album of Jerome Kern Songs. New York: circa 1950. First edition, inscribed to Harold and Anya Arlen by Kern's wife Eva in 1950, this likely a presentation copy especially bound in red leather. 11 3/4 x 9 inches (30 x 23 cm); 47 pp., introduction by Oscar Hammerstein II. Rubbing to edges, else fine.

Provenance: A Portion of the Harold Arlen Archives, Property of Mrs. Rita Arlen

Jerome Kern was from a generation of composers just ahead of Harold Arlen and was a great influence to him, the Gershwins, Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers and countless others. Kern is considered the father of the American musical. While "The Last Time I Saw Paris" is one of his later songs, it is considered one of the best of the era and was sung exclusively by Kate Smith on the radio for six weeks. Naturally, the song gained international recognition on the eve of World War II, particularly in France which had recently come under Nazi control. While not written for the film, the song was featured in Lady Be Good, and Kern was awarded the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1941. Accompanying the music is a presentation copy of Album of Jerome Kern Songs, prepared and issued by Oscar Hammerstein and Eva Kern five years after the composer's death.