Description
“AN ENTIRELY NEW DEPARTURE IN THE ART OF THE MOTION PICTURE”: EXCEPTIONAL PRESENTATION ASSOCIATION COPY OF FANTASIA,
INSCRIBED BY WALT DISNEY TO ANIMATOR ARTHUR MOORE,
ADDITIONALLY SIGNED BY 49 DISNEY ARTISTS
DISNEY STUDIOS. Walt Disney’s Fantasia. By Deems Taylor. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1940. Folio, original tan cloth, pictorial endpapers, original dust jacket.
First edition, the copy of one-time Disney animator Arthur Moore, boldly inscribed with flourishes opposite the title page, “To Art Moore, Good luck and best wishes, Walt Disney,” and signed throughout by 49 Disney Studio artists. An outstanding rarity.
Disney once said of his animated orchestral masterpiece, “Fantasia is timeless. It may run ten, 20, 30 years? Fantasia is an idea in itself. I can never build another.” Fantasia in book form is a compilation of the most memorable still images from the movie, accompanied by popular composer Deems Taylor’s lively interpretive text and conductor Leopold Stokowski’s foreword. Stokowski selected the music and led the Philadelphia Orchestra in performing the film’s soundtrack. This copy from the personal library of Arthur Moore, a 26-year-old junior animator at Disney Studios in 1941 when he gave notice that he had enlisted in the Army to fight in World War II. According to Moore, Disney summoned Moore to his office and presented him with this copy, signed by and inscribed to him by Disney and 49 studio animators, directors and other creative personnel. Signers include Ward Kimball, Frank Johnston, Walt Kelly, Marc Davis, Fred Moore, Hal Ambro and Milt Kahl, among others. Although Disney held Moore’s job for him during the war, Moore embarked on his own career upon his return, directing “Spunky and Tadpole” cartoons and writing several novels. With Moore’s bookplate.
Book about-fine, long vertical abrasions to both free endpapers. Very bright dust jacket with some edge-wear, including chip and two long closed tears to front panel. Copies inscribed to animators who worked on the landmark film are quite scarce. A wonderful copy boasting desirable signatures and an exceptional provenance.
