Saturday 28 April 2018

AN OLD FRIEND COMES HOME


Every now and again, I spot one of my signed books on ebay and am chuffed to see what the bookseller is asking for it while, at the same time, being utterly disconsolate that I earned so little from it first time around!

That said, of course, there are just as many times (or more) when I find one of my titles going for 1p plus postage!

Sometimes – very rarely – I decided to "reclaim the goods".  For several months I've been havering over purchasing a particular volume: a copy of MICKEY MOUSE - HIS LIFE AND TIMES (1986) written with my friend and fellow Disney historian, Richard Holliss,

The copy in question was originally inscribed for the legendary Disney animator and Imagineer, John Hench (1908-2004) among whose many accomplishments were his designs for Disneyland, Walt Disney World and EPCOT Center, his collaboration with Salvador Dali on the film DESTINO, and a series of 'official portraits' of Mickey, marking the Mouse's 25th, 50th, 60, 70th and 75th birthdays.

I loved and admired John very much and I am particularly pleased to now be able to look after this book, linking him, Mickey and Disney with Richard and myself.





PLEASE NOTE: I no longer live at the address on my letter to John.

To read more about John and his associations with Disney and Dali –– and to see examples of his personal Christmas cards that I revived over many years, CLICK HERE

Wednesday 25 April 2018

PATRON SAINT

In Italy, today  is Liberation Day: a national holiday commemorating the end of World War II in 1945 and the end of Nazi occupation of Italy.

But for the citizens of Venice, April 25th is a day for celebrating an even older holiday: Festa di San Marco – or The Feast of St Mark – commemorating the anniversary of St Mark’s death in 68 A.D.

In honour of that festival and Venice's patron saint (and in default of not being there in person), here's a photo of the statue of St Mark that stands atop the front facade of the Basilica San Marco.


Photo: Brian Sibley © 2017

Sunday 1 April 2018

EASTER DAY


St John the Divine, Kennington, London
[Photo: © Brian Sibley, 2009]