SAN SYLMAR, A Treasure House of Functional Fine Art

Merle Norman Cosmetics, Los Angeles, Limited Edition Revised Fourth Printing 1985.  Hard cover, 352 pages.  Very good; red faux leather with copper lettering and in-lay doors on front board, copper lettering and bands on spine.  Very slight flare to front board; binding sound with headbands.  Dust jacket shows some edge and cover wear; some creasing along edges; age toning with some spotting on verso; small scrape at bottom edge of rear flap fold.  INSCRIBED AND SIGNED by both J. B. Nethercutt and Dorothy Nethercutt to Ed D’Arcy on front end paper.  Remainder of interior clean and unmarked.  Fore-edge page block a bit wavy, but no water or moisture marks have been seen; slight fragrance.  ‘The Sounds of San Sylmar’ record in pocket at rear along with sound guide.  Also laid in is a Jan. 15, 1985 National Enquirer newspaper article concerning Nethercutt selling and re-buying a 1936 Duesenberg convertible.  Very heavy book.  ‘It is a collection of functional fine art, restored to perfect operating condition, and displayed in a warm, colorful, exotic treasure house.  … Classic cars came first, … and the mascots, or hood ornaments, followed naturally.  The large collection of automatic musical instruments began with a very beautiful small musical jewel box …  The couple became fascinated with automatic musical instruments, and their collection ranges from tiny musical watches to some of the largest orchestrations ever manufactured.’ (from Preface)