1915 – SUSAN LENOX – PORTFOLIO by HOWARD CHANDLER CHRISTY

SUSAN LENOX – PORTFOLIO
by HOWARD CHANDLER CHRISTY
1915 HEARST’S MAGAZINE – 8 COLOR PLATES

An uncommon portfolio of eight color plates by Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952) in his typical style. As you can see in the Hearst ad below (not included, I found on-line), Christy considered these images his best work yet. Susan Lenox – Her Rise and Fall was written by David Graham Phillips and posthumously published in 1917. Susan was an unrepentant prostitute. A 1931 film of the same name starred Greta Garbo and Clark Gable, their only film together. Published in 1915 by Hearst’s Magazine, the plates are 11 inches by 14 inches on a heavy paper simulating canvas and are in the original fold-over folder. The folder is lacking part of the top flap which allowed one plate to have some dust residue which with care can be removed. The other plates are spotless and gorgeous. The fold-over seam of the folder has separated.

I have the only known portfolio available.

This first image shows the folder unopened

and, then opened showing the separation of the folder

and here are the 8 plates, the first as you can see having some soiling since it was exposed. But, it could probably be cleaned, or at least covered by a mat when framed.

the poses have been described as follows: visiting a friend; putting on a bonnet; at the pond; tipping a waiter; taking a nap; dressing in front of a mirror; spending time with a suitor; and daydreaming by a fence.