Child Star: An Autobiography. Inscribed by Shirley Temple. First Edition, First Printing. McGraw Hill. New York, 1988.

Shirley Temple was the greatest child star in American history. She was only three years old in her first film. From 1934 to 1938, she led the Hollywood box office ahead of any other leading actor, with classic films such as Heidi, The Little Colonel, Curly Top, and many others relying on her incredible charm, singing and dancing ability, and brilliant onscreen presence. At the height of the Great Depression, Shirley Temple brought joy to millions of filmgoers. To this day, adoring fans consider her iconic performances as the pinnacle of child acting. Incredibly, she retired from film in her twenties and went on to lead a long career as a United States diplomat, serving as the Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia, and as the Chief of Protocol. In Child Star: An Autobiography, Shirley Temple Black (her married name) revisits her years in Hollywood with honesty, highlighting the triumphs, relationships, and sordid details. Child Star “is perhaps the most authentic and honest account to date by a major celebrity about what it was like to live and work in the golden era of Hollywood” (back flap). For any film aficionado or Shirley Temple fan, Child Star is a crucial volume.

This first edition, first printing is inscribed by Temple on the front free endpaper. It is in near-fine condition. In the original quarter cloth, about-fine with only pen marks to front board and spine sagging slightly. Text block near-fine, only minor soiling to bottom corner. In the original dust jacket, near-fine with only minor toning. 

A spectacular inscribed first edition by Shirley Temple.