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Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara Maitland's (Geena Davis) screen-matched "Handbook for the Recently Deceased" from Tim Burton's Beetlejuice. Deceased couple Adam and Barbara consulted a copy of the "Handbook for the Recently Deceased" for tips on how to remove the Deetz family from their home before Otho Fenlock (Glenn Shadix) stole their copy and used it to summon the Maitlands during Delia Deetz's (Catherine O'Hara) seance.

While multiple copies of the Handbook were created for production, blemishes on the cover of this specific book screen-match to when Adam first picked it up. The book originates from the film's assistant producer, June Petersen, who gifted it to post-production assistant John Collier "J.C." Bennett following production.

Additionally, some books, including this example, were completed with an interior title page, while other books from the production contain no interior pages. Books of this style are exceedingly rare, with this being the first Propstore has ever offered.

Designed to represent a gateway between the worlds of the living and the dead, this Handbook was modeled on Edward B. Greene's seminal psychology book Measurements of Human Behavior with design elements in Burton's signature comic Gothic style added. It features a custom-made, screen-printed cloth cover hand-weathered and labelled "Handbook For The Recently Deceased" adhered over a hardcover book with unrelated contents. The first page features a printed insert of the publishing dates for "Handbook For The Recently Deceased" dating back to 1620.

The book features handwritten markings within the text and along the margins. This lot exhibits notable loss of adhesion of the pages to the spine of the book. Dimensions: 22.25 cm x 15.25 cm x 4 cm (8.75" x 6" x 1.5")

Additional Provenance: Letter of Authenticity from Bennett.

Estimate: £25,000 - 50,000 Ω

View all lots from BEETLEJUICE (1988)