[DAVENPORT, MARCIA AND RUSSELL W.]
A collection of books, many inscribed by or to the Davenports, including biographies, novels, poetry and nonfiction books. The collection includes: DAVENPORT, MARCIA. Mozart. New York: Scribner's, 1932. First edition, the dedication copy, inscribed to the author's husband, Russell W. Davenport, and with a note stating that this is the "first copy off the press." Publisher's cloth backed boards, dust jacket. 9 x 5 1/2 inches (23 x 14.25 cm); 400 pp., frontispiece. Toning and wear, tattered jacket lacking spine, Book of the Month Club review laid in; together with: Five other works by Marcia Davenport, all inscribed to her daughter, including: Mozart. New York: Scribners, 1950; East Side, West Side. New York: Scribner's, 1947. First edition; Of Lena Geyer. New York: Scribner's, 1938; The Valley of Decision. New York: Scribner's, 1944; and, WHARTON, EDITION; with a foreword by MARCIA DAVENPORT. The House of Mirth. New York: Scribner's, 1951. All books with rubbing and wear, a few spines faded, all books lacking jackets; and with: DAVENPORT, RUSSELL W. Four first edition books, including: two copies of My Country. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1944. First editions, one copy inscribed to Harvey Schwartz; The Dignity of Man. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1955. First edition, inscribed to Nell from Natalie; The Abominable Branch London: Victor Gollancz Ltd., 1930. All four books in publisher's cloth, one with jacket. General fading and wear, dust jacket worn and split down the spine; and with: LEHMANN, LOTTE. Midway in My Song. The Autobiography of... Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1938. First edition, warmly inscribed to Russell Davenport. Publisher's cloth. Light wear, soiling and toning to cloth; and: SAVADOVE, LAURENCE D. The Sound of One Hand. New York: Duell, Sloan and Pearce, 1960. First edition, inscribed to the Davenports. Publisher's cloth, in dust jacket. Cloth spotted, jacket with some soiling and wear, a few small chips and tears, spine toned; and with: Eight more books by various authors. All presentation copies to the Davenports. Publisher's cloth or boards, one book in dust jacket. light to moderate wear, most books lacking dust jackets, sold as is.

Marcia and Russell Davenport were married from 1929 to 1944, during which time they enjoyed successful careers as authors and an active social life, with a wide-ranging group of friends and colleagues who included authors, musicians, publishers and politicians. Marcia, the daughter of opera singer Alma Gluck and the step-daughter of violinist Ephram Zimbalist, was best known for her first book, a definitive biography of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Two of her later novels, both present here, were adapted into films by Metro Goldwyn Meyer. On the other hand, Russell Davenport worked as author as well as an editor, with roles at Fortune, Time and Life magazines. He was also a political consultant for Wendell Wilkie's 1940 presidential campaign. A full listing of the books included in this lot is available upon request.