Three Wishes for Jamie (Souvenir Program/Script Cover)
Graphic Print / Ephemera on Paper • Anonymous graphic designer; associated with the Broadway production of the musical by Charles O'Neal and Abe Burrows
Style & Movement
Mid-Century Modern Graphic Design
Medium & Technique
Offset lithography or screen printing on textured heavy-weight paper stock
Creation Period
circa 1951-1952
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 9 x 12 inches; Vertical Portrait format
Subject Description
The composition features two Victorian-era silhouettes above the title text. Below the title is an abstract pattern of stylized shamrocks in green, grey, and textured halftones, reflecting the play's Irish folklore themes and the Atomic Age aesthetic sensibilities of the early 1950s.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows significant evidence of handling and age-related wear.
Estimated Market Value
$25 - $75 USD
Auction Estimate
$30 - $50 USD
Provenance History
Likely acquired as a souvenir from a theatergoer during the original 1951 Los Angeles/San Francisco run or the 1952 Broadway run at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.
Art Historical Significance
Represents the visual marketing of Mid-Century Broadway theater. 'Three Wishes for Jamie' was an adaptation of a Christopher Award-winning novel, notable for its transition from a West Coast premiere to Broadway and its use of folklore in musical theater during the 'Golden Age' of the genre.
Notable Features
Distinctive textured 'pebble' finish on the paper and the use of overprinting techniques where the grey and green shamrocks overlap, a hallmark of 1950s commercial printing.
Condition Issues
Visible edge wear and fraying on the right margin, minor creasing at corners, surface soiling/foxing at the top edge, and general yellowing (toning) of the paper due to acid content.
Conservation Recommendations
Store in an acid-free, archival-quality sleeve or folder. If displayed, use UV-filtering glass and avoid direct sunlight to prevent further fading of the green pigments and paper embrittlement.