A new autographed Louise Brooks related treasure

Recently, I added a new treasure to my collection of Louise Brooks related autographed books.

Over the years, I have collected all manner of items -- including vintage autographed copies of books which were turned into Brooks' films to autographed copies of books about the actress to a book which once belonged to Brooks and which is annotated in her hand.

Among the vintage titles I have are Colleen Moore's copy of Beggars of Life, bearing her decorative bookplate and inscribed to the bobbed actress by author Jim Tully. (I also have a copy of Beggars of Life which was owned by Ralph Bierce, the son of writer Ambrose Bierce.) I have an autographed hardback copy of The Show-Off  (the play) signed by Pulitzer Prize winning dramatist George Kelly and inscribed to one of the cast members of the acclaimed stage play. I have as well an autographed copy of J.P. McEvoy's Hollywood Girl, the sequel to Show Girl, which was inspired by Brooks.

I have autographed 1st edition copies of a number of more recent titles, the Barry Paris biography, Rolland Jaccard's Louise Brooks: Portrait of an Anti-Star, Peter Cowie's Louise Brooks: Lulu Forever, Jan Wahl's Dear Stinkpot: Letters from Louise Brooks; Kevin Brownlow's The Parade's Gone By and a handful of other titles.

My most recent acquisition may not be as glamorous as some of the above mentioned books, but I treasure it none the less. The book is Movie Star Vamps and Scamps Paper Dolls by the late Tom Tierney, the noted American paper doll artist. This 2003 Dover book is signed by Tierny.

According to his Wikipedia page, "Tierney ... had a Paper Doll Shop for many years on Main Street in downtown Smithville after leaving New York. His shop was downstairs while Mr. Tierney, known as Tom about town, lived in his upstairs apartment. He autographed all of his many Paper Doll Books which he sold until his death. His relatives kept the store open in memory of him until his supply of Vintage style paper ornaments and books sold out." My copy must have come from his shop, as it is additionally stickered with his defunct web address.

There was a time when if you went into a bookstore you stood a good chance of coming across a selection of Tierney's paper doll books. According to his New York Times obit, "From the mid-1970s until his death, Mr. Tierney reigned as 'the undisputed king' of the international paper-doll world, as The New York Times wrote in 1999 — a milieu that comprises thousands of collectors in the United States alone. Over the years, he created more than 400 paper-dolls books, most issued by Dover Publications. His Dover titles have sold four million copies, according to the company."

As a former bookseller, I had long been aware of Tierney's books, and was likewise disappointed that he had never took on Louise Brooks as a subject. Tierney created Garbo, Joan Crawford, Rita Hayworth, Veronica Lake and Lana Turner dolls, but never Brooks! Prior to the publication of Movie Star Vamps and Scamps Paper Dolls, I emailed Tierney suggesting he consider Brooks, and asked that he consider doing an entire book of dolls devoted to the actress.  

Movie Star Vamps and Scamps Paper Dolls was released in 2003. And while it isn't devoted in its entirety to Brooks, she is featured on the cover. (Brooks is one of 12 femmes fatales from the silent era through the 1930s depicted in costumes from their most popular films -- also included is Gloria Swanson, Marlene Dietrich, Jean Harlow, Mae West, Theda Bara, Mae Murray, Nita Naldi, Barbara LaMarr, Pola Negri, Clara Bow, and Myrna Loy.) I purchased a copy back then. And just recently, while perusing eBay, I came across an autographed copy and realized I had to have it. Here is a scan of the Brooks page (which is next to Clara Bow - not shown).