1949 SIGNED Advance Copy William Feather Business of Life Jacob F Weintz S&S
Item Specifics
Author: William Feather
Title: The Business of Life
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (The Inner Sanctum)
Year Printed: 1949
Binding: Hardcover
Special Attributes: 1st Edition, Pre-Publication Advance Review Copy, Inscribed/Signed by Author, Associated Copy (Jacob F. Weintz), Complete Publisher Ephemera Included, Archive/Provenance Copy
Subject: Business Philosophy, Essay Collections, 20th Century American Publishing History
Item Description
THE OFFERING
An extraordinary, museum-grade 1949 Pre-Publication Advance Review Archive for The Business of Life by celebrated publisher and essayist William Feather.
This is not merely a signed book—it is a 100% complete, fully documented publisher's promotional time capsule directly out of Simon & Schuster’s historic Inner Sanctum offices in Rockefeller Center, complete with pre-publication correspondence between Feather, S&S, and prominent New York media executive Jacob F. Weintz.
ARCHIVAL PACKAGE COMPONENTS & PROVENANCE
1. Author-Inscribed Pre-Publication First Edition:
Inscription: Hand-signed and inscribed by William Feather on the front flyleaf:
"To Jacob F. Weintz — Compliments of the author — August 12, 1949"
Pre-Release Date Notation: Explicitly noted in ink: "Published September 16, 1949"—documenting that this advance copy was executed and delivered over a month prior to the public trade release date.
2. Original Simon & Schuster "Inner Sanctum" Advance Card:
The original, beautifully preserved red-and-white publisher’s advance slip from "THE INNER SANCTUM of SIMON AND SCHUSTER PUBLISHERS · 1230 Sixth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, New York 20."
Formally issued to NYC advertising executive Jacob F. Weintz (VP & Advertising Director of Sales Management Magazine), soliciting an advance review and permission to quote his comments prior to the September 16 public release.
3. Original 1949 Endorsement / Blurb Sheet:
The actual contemporary review drafted by recipient Jacob F. Weintz.
Written on personal Huntington, N.Y. letterhead and dated August 13, 1949 (the exact day after Feather inscribed the volume).
Contains a glowing, handwritten multi-sentence endorsement praising Feather's work, signed by Weintz.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
In the golden age of post-war American publishing, Simon & Schuster’s Inner Sanctum utilized targeted "blurb harvests"—sending pre-publication copies to influential New York media executives like Jacob F. Weintz to secure promotional quotes prior to nationwide distribution.
Finding an advance copy from this era is rare; finding the book, the original S&S advance slip, AND the recipient's handwritten endorsement sheet intact together after 75+ years is practically unheard of.
CONDITION REPORT
Volume: Solid, authentic vintage condition. Original dark cloth boards with bold gold-gilt facsimile author signature on the front cover. Tight, square text block with clean interior pages and minor age toning. Light chipping/wear to top and bottom spine tips and cloth corners as pictured.
Ephemera: The Inner Sanctum advance slip and handwritten endorsement sheet are in exceptional, archival-grade condition with crisp edges and vivid, unfaded ink.
SHIPPING & ARCHIVAL PACKAGING
Priority Handling: Ships via USPS Priority Mail with full insurance and tracking.
Archival Protection: The book and all loose ephemera will be individually encased in acid-free, archival-safe protective sleeves and wrapped in heavy bubble cushioning inside a rigid box to guarantee safe delivery.
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