Crossroads of commerce: The Pennsylvania Railroad calendar art of Grif Teller

Richmond, VT: Great Eastern Pub, 1992. Book. Illus. by Ken Murry. Fine. Hardcover. Signed by Illustrator(s). First Edition. First Edition. Oblong quarto, brick red glazed paper covered boards with gilt title and spine titles. 184 pp. including index, bibliography and appendix detailing all of the commissioned oils on canvas that were published as Pennsylvania Railroad. SIGNED AND DATED BY PHOTOGRAPHER KEN MURRY ON TITLE PAGE. Includes, reprodutions of brochures, fliers and other promotional material, as well as vintage photographs of scenes that Grif Teller worked from and behind the scenes photographs of the artist at work, and sketches and developmental works, that were never used for calendar publications. Beginning in 1925 the Pennsylvania Railroad published annual catalogs with reproductions from oil paintings of the trains and facitlites of what was then arguably the most important and profitable railroad in the world. Of these 33 paintings 27 are signed by Grif Teller, who consequently became one of the most famous and sought after painter of railroad scenes. One section is devoted to a chronological reproduction of all 33 paintings with extensive background material and description. Also included is a selection selection of 90 commissioned railroad works not for the PRR, This book is thoroughly and meticulously researched and presents not only a working biography of Grif Teller and the calendars of the PRR, but also of the Osborne Company which published the calendars. This is an excellent collector's copy, with fresh glazed boards and sparkling gilt titles. Clean and nmarked throughout, with bright glossy pages and images, the only flaw is the faintest sign of rippling at the bottom page edges, indicating moisture but no marks or signs of damp and very inconspicuous except upon close examination. In a tight, clean, bright, glossy, sharp unclipped dust jacket. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket. .