Shop
-
First Edition of Langston Hughes' I Wonder As I Wander; With a Full Page Inscription to Amy Spingarn
HUGHES, LANGSTON.
I Wonder As I Wander: An Autobiographical Journey.
New York: Rinehart 1956.
First edition of Hughes’ classic autobiography. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, lengthily inscribed by the author with a full page inscription on the front free endpaper, “Inscribed especially for Amy Spingarn, another “life” of mine, for a friend who has helped to make life of ever joyous and cultural interest. Most sincerely, Langston New York 1957.” The recipient, Amy Einstein Spingarn was a philanthropist, poet, and artist known especially for her paintings of prominent African-American cultural figures. Upon the death of her husband, Joel Spingarn, in 1939, Amy Spingarn was elected to finish out his term on the NAACP Board of Directors. Covers show some wear and some spotting in a very good dust jacket. An exceptional association.
Price: $4,800.00 Item Number: 43089
-
First Edition of Langston Hughes's Laughing To Keep From Crying; Inscribed by Him
HUGHES, LANGSTON.
Laughing To Keep From Crying.
New York: Henry Holt and Company 1952.
First edition of Hughes’ second major collection of short stories. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “Inscribed especially for Wolfgang, With sincere regard Langston New York March 30, 1952.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with light rubbing.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 61051
-
"ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN A GREAT WRITER AND A GREAT PHOTOGRAPHER EVER PUBLISHED": Scarce First Edition of The Sweet Flypaper of Life; Lengthily inscribed by Langston Hughes
DECARAVA, ROY AND LANGSTON HUGHES.
The Sweet Flypaper of Life.
New York: Simon & Schuster 1955.
First edition of the classic collaboration between Roy DeCarava and Langston Hughes. Small octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by Langston Hughes on the front free endpaper, “Especially for Lucian Stanton whose photographs I very much enjoyed seeing- Sincerely- Langston Hughes New York Feb. 23, 1960.” An excellent example in the original dust jacket. Roth 101, Parr & Badger, The Photobook I, 242; The Open Book, 160. The hardcover is much more uncommon than the wrapper edition.
Price: $2,250.00 Item Number: 90534
-
"HOLD FAST TO DREAMS For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly": First Edition of Langston Hughes's The Dream Keeper
HUGHES, LANGSTON.
The Dream Keeper.
New York : Alfred A. Knopf 1949.
First edition of this classic collection of poems. Octavo, original cloth, illustrations by Helen Sewell. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by Helen Sewell. First editions are uncommon.
Price: $850.00 Item Number: 125808
-
First edition of Langston Hughes' The First Book of Africa; inscribed by him
HUGHES, LANGSTON.
The First Book of Africa.
New York: Franklin Watts, Inc. 1960.
First edition of Hughes’ concise history of Africa. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “For the Richardsons ~ Sincerely ~ Langston New York, July 24, 1960.” Very good in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $2,800.00 Item Number: 129607
-
First edition of Langston Hughes' Not Without Laughter; inscribed by him to his editor Bernard Smith
HUGHES, LANGSTON.
Not Without Laughter.
New York: Alfred A. Knopf 1930.
First edition of Langston Hughes’ award-winning debut novel. Octavo, original cloth. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page in the year of publication to his editor, “For Bernard Smith ~ Sincerely, Langston Hughes July 3, 1930.” The recipient, American literary editor and critic Bernard Smith began working at Alfred A. Knopf in 1928 and eventually rose to editor-in-chief and managing editor. He notably edited the works of B. Traven, Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett, and Langston Hughes, including this, Hughes’ debut novel. In near fine condition. An exceptional association copy, inscribed by Hughes to the man that helped publish this very work. Exceedingly rare with only two inscribed copies of this work traced at auction.
Price: $12,500.00 Item Number: 129438
-
First edition of Langston Hughes' Montage of a Dream Deferred; inscribed by him to photographer Marion Palfi
HUGHES, LANGSTON.
Montage of a Dream Deferred.
New York: Henry Holt and Company 1951.
First edition of Hughes’ classic jazz poem suite. Octavo, original boards. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “For Marion ~ good wishes ever, Sincerely ~ Langston New York January 30, 1951.” The recipient, Marion Palfi, was a German-born social-documentary photographer who fled Nazi Germany for the United States in 1940. Her work explored the concepts of social injustices in America and included many photographic studies that focused on racial injustice against African Americans, poverty in cities, and racial discrimination against Native Americans. Hughes was an admirer of her work and did a great deal to support and encourage her, notably commenting: “A Palfi photograph brings us face to face with hidden realities that its surface only causes us to begin to explore.” Near fine in the rare original dust jacket which is in near fine condition. Jacket design by Walter Miles.
Price: $3,800.00 Item Number: 129081
-
"Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air, and you": First edition of Langston Hughes' The Book of Negro Humor; inscribed by him to Civil rights figure Amy Spingarn
HUGHES, LANGSTON.
The Book of Negro Humor.
New York: Dodd, Mead & Company 1966.
First edition of Hughes’ compilation of classic and contemporary Negro humor. Octavo, original boards. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “A Very Happy Birthday to Amy Springarn ~ Sincerely, Langston New York, January 29, 1966.” The recipient, Amy Einstein Spingarn was a philanthropist, poet, and artist known especially for her paintings of prominent African-American cultural figures. Upon the death of her husband, Joel Spingarn, in 1939, Amy Spingarn was elected to finish out his term on the NAACP Board of Directors. Fine in a very good dust jacket. A fine association.
Price: $1,600.00 Item Number: 129813
-
"You cannot eat a cluster of grapes at once, but it is very easy if you eat them one by one": First Edition of Roumain's Masters of the Dew: A Novel of Haiti; Inscribed by Langston Hughes
ROUMAIN, JACQUES; TRANSLATED BY LANGSTON HUGHES AND MERCER COOK.
Masters of the Dew: A Novel of Haiti.
New York: Reynal & Hitchcock 1947.
First edition of this outstanding Haitian novel which tells of Manuel’s struggle to keep his little community from starvation during drought. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the translator Langston Hughes in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Michael Alexander- Sincerely, Langston Hughes New York, Sept. 12, 1947. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Translated by Langston Hughes and Mercer Cook.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 130654
-
First edition of Langston Hughes' The First Book of Africa; inscribed by him
HUGHES, LANGSTON.
The First Book of Africa.
New York: Franklin Watts, Inc. 1960.
First edition of Hughes’ concise history of Africa. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Allison, Stephen, and Alan- with the sincere regards of- Langston Hughes New York, PEN Club, October 17, 1960.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket.
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 132469