The World's Illusion, Volume 1: Eva
New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1927.
Signed by author Jakob Wassermann on the front free endpaper in blue ink, inscribed in German "fur Paul Berne herzlichst [signed] Jakob Wassermann Hollywood, [illegible] 1927." Paul Bern was the German-born film scenarist for this very novel who signed a contract with Wassermann at a luncheon with his boss at MGM, Irving Thalberg, and others according to a Jewish Daily Bulletin article of April 5, 1927. They write, "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer plans to produce 'The World’s Illusion' on a lavish scale. Herr Wassermann is making a tour of the United States before returning to Europe to begin his next novel." Wassermann probably accidentally misspelled Bern's name. Apparently the film was ever made.
[vi], 383 pp. Publisher's blue cloth with orange stamping, red topstain. Tenth printing of the first American edition. First volume only; lacking the second volume. Very Good with faint horizontal dampstain to front board, contents slightly toned.
Intriguingly another inscription in black ink beneath that in another, very odd hand reads in German "mit [illegible] [illegible] fur [illegible] von Paul Bern Beverly Hills"; it doesn't seem to resemble the examples of Bern's handwriting we could find online-- including the famous suicide note that many believe was not actually his handwriting. Perhaps it was written by an assistant of his or someone on his behalf?
Regardless of whomever wrote the second inscription, this is a very interesting signed copy-- likely with an intriguing Hollywood association. Bern's death on September 5, 1932 has been hotly debated for years; he was married to star Jean Harlow at the time. Signed books by Wassermann are uncommon, too.
Price: $400.00