Signed book: Dali: A Study of his Life and Work. First American edition. Greenwich, Connecticut: New York Graphic Society, 1958. Hardcover with dust jacket, 14.5 x 14, 96 pages. Impressively signed and inscribed across the half-title page spread in blue ballpoint, "Pour Judy and Robert, Hommage de Dali, 1963," sketching a shooting star 'Sputnik' and a typical ant beside the enormous lettering. Autographic condition: fine. Book condition: VG/VG, with some minor chips and edge tears to the acetate dust jacket.
Accompanied by a marvelously detailed letter of provenance from the original recipient, describing an encounter with Dali inside a hotel store at the St. Regis in New York. In part: "There, much to my delight, for I was a budding artist, was a wonderful display of books featuring the works of Salvador Dali…in my excitement, I stated much too loudly, 'Salvador Dali is absolutely my favorite artist!' At that announcement, the gentleman, standing beside the register counter, with his back toward us, turned around. There he stood… Salvador Dali himself!!! Would you believe, he walked over to us and we visited (in English) as if we had known each other forever…My fiancé 'brought me back to earth' by asking me if I would like him to buy me a book and ask Mr. Dali to sign it. Of course, my answer was 'Yes!'…He not only signed our book, he entertained us by creating his version of 'Sputnik.' Then he added his well known 'ants' that devour the limp watches in his fabulous painting, Persistence of Memory. He narrated (in English) his signing all the time he was creating."
Accompanied by a full Letter of Authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services (BAS).