Gershwin, George

Fine autobiographical typed letter signed ("George"), 2 pages (10 x 8 in.; 254 x 204 mm) on his personal letterhead, New York City, 12 December 1929, to his biographer Isaac Goldberg ("Dear Ike"); formerly folded. Blue half-morocco drop-box, gilt-stamped title on spine.

Gershwin corrects a mistake in Ferber's book on his family name and provides an account of the composition history of "The Man I Love," referring to his brother Ira and Lady Mountbatten: " ... When Edgar Selwyn decided to do 'Strike Up the Band' he wanted it for that show. It went into the show, but it did not set the world on fire; the reason being that there is very little action that can be done with the song and therefore it is not a good production number. "Strike Up the Band" was closed for changes after three weeks. The songs popularity in America was started by Americans who heard it abroad and asked for it here ... "