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Sale 52
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Lot 336
Extremely Rare Pinocchio Story Script Signed & Inscribed by Walt Disney. In 1939 Walt Disney produced 100 hard cover "Pinocchio" production books which included the early story script, storyboard sketches, and other behind-the-scenes and conceptual materials and presented these books to V.I.P.s.
This book, one of only 100 ever made, is boldly signed and inscribed at the top of the title page: "TO GUNTHER LESSING / OLD R. H. B. HIMSELF / WALT DISNEY / MAY 1939." Walt Disney's signature is a giant 5" long. The book itself is a large 12" x 10" (with cover closed). It is in very fine condition. Very minor stray marks on front cover; the top of the first few pages has come loose at the spiral binding (affecting only five or fewer rungs of the 18 spiral rungs; the pages remain firmly in place). The page stating that this is #25 of 100 books has two staples in place and two staple holes. The book is in overall excellent condition. 46 pages; 41 numbered and 6 without numbers.
Gunther Lessing was Disney's chief legal counsel and vice president of Walt Disney Productions. According to Disney Archivist David R. Smith, "Old R. H. B." is rumored to mean "old red-headed bastard." Lessing was hired by Disney in 1929 and stayed with the studio for 35 years, retiring in 1964.
The forward of the book states: "This book records the development of characters and basic story of Walt Disney's second feature-length animated motion picture, 'PINOCCHIO.' The story depicts the adventures of little wooden marionette who comes to life. It is derived from the well-known children's classic by Collodi and is presented here in the form of a written continuity, character model sheets and story sketches. These rough pencil sketches, and thousands more like them, serve collectively as a plan or master pattern for the completed picture. Their function is to outline the action of the story as it will appear ultimately on the screen…"
"Pinocchio" was Disney's second feature-length animated film and was released in February 1940. Disney expert Phil Sears explains that because it took several years to make an animated film, it was important to copyright the characters long before the film was released. By publishing the story and character designs in book form and putting the book on public sale, copyright was established under the law. In this case public sale often meant the Disney studio store. Similar books were done for later animated features. Of interest: Disney recently announced the release of "Pinocchio" to DVD and Blu-ray.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 12,000.
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