Code: 10098
Original vintage London Life magazine dated 16th December 1939, an authentic pre-war British society and picture weekly featuring period advertisements, theatre and fashion interest, and evocative late 1930s London social history.
A wonderful piece of British pre-war ephemera, capturing the glamour and atmosphere of London just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.
Historically, publications of this type are recognised as part of the visual culture that later influenced John Willie, whose post-war Bizarre magazine drew inspiration from earlier British glamour and society periodicals.
This issue includes a lovely photographic feature of Madeleine Carroll, star of Cafe Society for Paramount Pictures, adding strong Golden Age Hollywood appeal.
The central feature includes two notable period images: the first shows a scene from the celebrated film The Great Ziegfeld, while the second features Francis Laidler, the “Pantomime King”, reviewing the dancers who appeared in Cinderella at the London Coliseum, notably the only pantomime staged that Christmas.
Further theatrical and film interest includes a photograph of Marjorie King, noted as having been discovered by Gracie Fields, together with rehearsal photographs from Light Up, Charles B. Cochran’s wartime revue.
There is also a photographic scene featuring Martha Raye from The Farmer's Daughter, a Paramount Pictures production.
A superb original issue offering a fascinating snapshot of British theatre, cinema and wartime popular culture during Christmas 1939.
Ideal for collectors of vintage magazines, theatre ephemera, fashion history, social history, and Art Deco design.
CONDITION REPORT
Good original condition overall, presenting very well for display. There is wear to the edges and some creasing, entirely consistent with age and handling. An earlier seller’s pencil annotation, including a price and brief notes, remains to the front cover.
There is age-related browning and discolouration, most noticeably to the cover and the first few pages, where it is at its strongest before diminishing further into the magazine. Some page corners have been turned over from period handling, but the magazine remains complete.
The back cover has a small tear, underscored with a period pencil line, as shown. A well-preserved early wartime example with honest signs of age and handling, displaying attractively despite expected wear commensurate with a publication of this period.
