Estate / Collection: The Rita Arlen Trust

[ARLEN, HAROLD]
WILDER, ALEX. Songs by Alec Wilder. [New York: Richmond, circa 1868]. Inscribed "For Harold Arlen/A man who has had a great influence/in keeping me a true believer/Alex Wilder/Aug 26 1968." Original pictorial wrappers. 12 x 9 inches (30 x 8 cm). Hinge loose, lightly rubbed along extremities.

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

A fine association between Alex Wilder and Harold Arlen, of who Wilder wrote in his canonical book, "American Popular Song": "I must guard against over-enthusiasm ... If the story was true that George Gershwin was his hero ... as far as I'm concerned, the pupil surpassed the teacher ... I respect Gershwin, but I envy Arlen."