Diamond Jim: The Life and Times of James Buchanan Brady -
Parker Morell
1934 - Simon and Schuster, New York - First Edition
The lively, true rags-to-riches story of Diamond Jim Brady, the vulgar and pretentious but generous and lovable to a fault Gilded Age businessman, with a gargantuan appetite for rich food and opulent jewelry, who started life as a barkeeper’s son and ended up one of the world’s most sensational capitalists. ‘Possibly the most colorful personality that ever walked the sidewalks of New York’.
First edition, notable for it’s faux-Diamond which is embedded into the front covers, sparkling through to Diamond Jim’s shirt on the scarce dust jacket. Illustrated with 22 black and white photographs.
‘Diamond Jim Brady was famous for three things: making millions selling railroad supplies, wearing flashy jewellery and eating enormous amounts of food.’ – The New York Times. Born in New York City to a modest household, James Buchanan Brady (1856-1917) worked his way up from bellhop and courier, before gaining employment as chief assistant, and then general manager, of the New York Central Railroad. He would later utilise his knowledge of the rail transport industry, becoming a successful salesman in railroad supply company Manning, Maxwell & Moore.
A mainstay of Broadway nightlife and investor in the stock market, Brady became best known for his penchant for diamonds, as well as for his enormous appetite. He was also in a relationship with actress and singer Lillian Russell for many years.
Brady was the inspiration for the 1935 film Diamond Jim, written by Preston Sturges and starring Edward Arnold, Jean Arthur and Cesar Romero.
References: Jeffers, Diamond Jim Brady: Prince of the Gilded Age 2001. Kamp, ‘Whether True or False, a Real Stretch’ The New York Times 2008. ‘Diamond Jim’, www.imdb.com web. Kirkus Reviews, web.
Large octavo (book size 23.4x16.4cm), pp. [12] 286 [2] [1 (publisher’s advertisement)] [3]. In publisher’s burgundy cloth, white paper spine label in blue and black matching dust jacket design, blind embossed silhouette of Diamond Jim with inset faux diamond to upper board. Dust jacket price clipped to upper corner of front flap. Condition: Fine in the delicate very good dust jacket, small chips and wear to flap folds corners and spine which is also toned, a number of closed splits along the flap fold and spine. Ref: 112473 Price: HK$ 5,000
First edition, notable for it’s faux-Diamond which is embedded into the front covers, sparkling through to Diamond Jim’s shirt on the scarce dust jacket. Illustrated with 22 black and white photographs.
‘Diamond Jim Brady was famous for three things: making millions selling railroad supplies, wearing flashy jewellery and eating enormous amounts of food.’ – The New York Times. Born in New York City to a modest household, James Buchanan Brady (1856-1917) worked his way up from bellhop and courier, before gaining employment as chief assistant, and then general manager, of the New York Central Railroad. He would later utilise his knowledge of the rail transport industry, becoming a successful salesman in railroad supply company Manning, Maxwell & Moore.
A mainstay of Broadway nightlife and investor in the stock market, Brady became best known for his penchant for diamonds, as well as for his enormous appetite. He was also in a relationship with actress and singer Lillian Russell for many years.
Brady was the inspiration for the 1935 film Diamond Jim, written by Preston Sturges and starring Edward Arnold, Jean Arthur and Cesar Romero.
References: Jeffers, Diamond Jim Brady: Prince of the Gilded Age 2001. Kamp, ‘Whether True or False, a Real Stretch’ The New York Times 2008. ‘Diamond Jim’, www.imdb.com web. Kirkus Reviews, web.
Large octavo (book size 23.4x16.4cm), pp. [12] 286 [2] [1 (publisher’s advertisement)] [3]. In publisher’s burgundy cloth, white paper spine label in blue and black matching dust jacket design, blind embossed silhouette of Diamond Jim with inset faux diamond to upper board. Dust jacket price clipped to upper corner of front flap. Condition: Fine in the delicate very good dust jacket, small chips and wear to flap folds corners and spine which is also toned, a number of closed splits along the flap fold and spine. Ref: 112473 Price: HK$ 5,000