The One and Only Bing By Bob Thomas
The One and Only Bing
A Joyous Mid-Century Memoir, Illustrated Filmography, and Archival Visual Tribute to the Golden-Voiced King of the Crooners
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: The One and Only Bing
- Author: Bob Thomas
- Publisher: Michael Joseph Ltd, London
- Publication Date: 1977
- ISBN-10: 0718116984
- ISBN-13: 9780718116989
- Edition Details: First UK Edition, Stated First Printing. Published in the commemorative year of the artist's passing.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium cloth-bound hardcover boards with gold-foil spine lettering, complete with an unclipped original illustrated paper dust jacket.
- Physical Format: Quarto / Large Format (4to), 160 pages. Richly structured with a dedicated illustrated filmography, an exhaustive discography of his greatest musical hits, and a vast archive of rare monochrome and color photographs.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Very Good (VG)
- Exterior / Boards: The original hardback cloth covers are exceptionally flat, square, and structurally sound with sharp corners and stable edges. The spine remains completely uncreased, tight, and undamaged with bright, crisp lettering.
- Interior: Pristine. The text block is robustly bound, tight, and completely square. Internal pages, expansive photographic arrays, and reference margins are beautifully white, crisp, and clean. Entirely free of highlighting, user notations, page folding, or bookseller markings.
- Protective Preservation: Professionally enclosed in a heavy-duty, premium archival cellophane cover, fully shielding the exterior boards from environmental friction or dust accumulation.
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The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
- Condition details: Present, unclipped, and structurally sound. Displays typical, limited signs of minor edge wear and light vintage shelf rubbing along the extremities, completely commensurate with a well-preserved 1970s volume. Free of extensive missing pieces or major open tears.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Published in 1977, The One and Only Bing stands as a poignant and timely biographical monument compiled in the exact year of the legendary entertainer's passing. For over forty years, Bing Crosby delighted the world with his easy charm, graceful style, and an unmatched vocal talent that sustained three generations of global fans. Veteran Hollywood journalist Bob Thomas delivers an admiring tribute and joyous memoir that tracks Crosby's massive cultural imprint. The narrative chronicles how he raised spirits during the Great Depression, entertained frontline soldiers during World War II, and permanently transformed holiday traditions with his immortal rendition of "White Christmas". From his Oscar-winning dramatic triumphs to his zany, legendary "Road" comedies alongside Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, this volume is packed with rare photographs and intimate anecdotes of Bing, his family, and his inner circle. For classic cinema archivists, vocal jazz historians, and vintage entertainment collectors, this first-edition commemorative volume serves as an essential historical keepsake.
Author Profile: Bob Thomas
Bob Thomas (1922–2014) was a monumental American journalist, biographer, and the longest-serving Hollywood reporter in the history of the Associated Press. Spanning a legendary career that lasted over sixty years, Thomas authored more than thirty definitive books documenting the Golden Age of cinema, including acclaimed biographies of Walt Disney, Marlon Brando, Joan Crawford, and Howard Hughes. Renowned for his unprecedented insider studio access, deep personal rapport with stars, and balanced biographical integrity, his historical retrospectives are celebrated globally by collectors for their narrative accuracy and archival value.
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