The World of Albert Schweitzer: A Book of Photographs by Erica Anderson. [With] Albert Schweitzer Autograph Note and Signed Photograph.

[SCHWEITZER, Albert]. Photographs by Erica Anderson. Text and Captions by Eugene Exman.

$1,200.00

Item Number: 142709

New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1955.

First edition of this magnificent volume of 169 photographs recording Albert Schweitzer’s life and work; with a rare black and white photograph of Albert Schweitzer on a bank of the Ogooué River, signed by him, “Albert Schweitzer.” Also accompanied by a letter in English from Schweitzer’s nurse and personal secretary Ali Silver to Fred and Eleanor Peck, on the bottom portion of which Schweitzer has added an autograph note in French which translates into English as, “Dear Sir, dear Madam, I thank you from the heart for the medicines for my hospital. Let me also tell you how much I am touched by the sympathy that you show in your Christmas card. With my good thoughts, Albert Schweitzer.” Dated December 29th, 1955, Silver’s portion of the letter thanks the recipients for their gift, pointing out that the volume of Schweitzer‘s correspondence has become unprecedentedly large, noting that Schweitzer has been spending more time lately renovating the leper village, and remarking that there are now about 250 patients plus about 150 lepers at the compound. With three additional notes from various senders to Mr. or Mrs. Peck and Eleanor Peck’s signed bookplate to the front free endpaper of the book. Also with and typed letter signed and autograph note on the verso of a photograph of Schweitzer signed by Lee Ellenbrock. The book is very good in a very good dust jacket. The photograph measures 4 inches by 5 inches and is in near fine condition.

Albert Schweitzer was a German, and later French, theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 for his philosophy of "Reverence for Life", becoming the eighth Frenchman to be awarded that prize. From 1952 until his death he worked against nuclear tests and nuclear weapons with Albert Einstein, Otto Hahn and Bertrand Russell. Schweitzer’s philosophy was expressed in many ways, but most famously in founding and sustaining the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, which up to 1958 was situated in French Equatorial Africa, and after this in Gabon.