"A NEW, MODERN AFRICAN AMERICAN AESTHETIC"

THURMAN, Wallace. Blacker the Berry. New York, 1929.

First edition of the first book by Thurman, whose brilliantly satiric works inspired a "revolt against establishment arts" of the Harlem Renaissance, praised by Langston Hughes as a mischievously "gorgeous book," in the rare original dust jacket. $22,500.

"NEVER IN AMERICAN HISTORY HAD A GROUP SEIZED THE STREETS, THE SQUARES, THE SACROSANCT BUSINESS THOROUGHFARES AND THE MARBLED HALL OF GOVERNMENT TO PROTEST AND PROCLAIM THE UNENDURABILITY OF THEIR OPPRESSION"

KING Jr., Martin Luther. Why We Can't Wait. New York, Evanston, and London, 1964.

First edition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s eloquent and impassioned defense of what he deemed “the Negro revolution," inscribed by him on the front free endpaper, "Best Wishes, Martin Luther King." $21,000.

RARE AND DESIRABLE TYPED PAGE FROM AN EARLY DRAFT OF THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MALCOLM X, WITH A THREE-WORD AUTOGRAPH ADDITION IN MALCOLM X’S HAND AND 125 AUTOGRAPH EDITS BY ALEX HALEY, HANDSOMELY FRAMED

MALCOLM X and HALEY, Alex. Typed draft page annotated. No place, circa 1963.

Exceptionally rare typed page from an early draft of The Autobiography of Malcolm X with a three-word autograph addition by Malcolm X and 125 autograph edits by Alex Haley, handsomely matted and framed with photographic portraits of the authors. $12,000.

SHAKESPEARE IN HARLEM, INSCRIBED BY LANGSTON HUGHES

HUGHES, Langston. Shakespeare in Harlem. New York, 1942.

First edition of Hughes' major book of poetry—"a work of genuine talent and artistry"—inscribed at length by him in the year of publication, "Dear Noël—Much of this book, you know, was written at Hollow Hills. But the poems are of much less pleasant places. Happiness to you always! Langston. New York, February 6, 1942." $7500.

"THE FIRST POPULAR BOOK ABOUT AFRO-AMERICAN FOLKLORE EVER WRITTEN BY A BLACK SCHOLAR"

HURSTON, Zora Neale. Mules and Men. Philadelphia, 1935.

First edition of Hurston's first non-fiction work—"the perfect book" (Alice Walker)—hailed as "the most engaging, genuine, and skillfully written book in the field of folklore," widely viewed as her masterpiece, highly elusive in the original dust jacket. $6800.

FIRST EDITION OF THE BOOK OF AMERICAN NEGRO SPIRITUALS, INSCRIBED BY JAMES WELDON JOHNSON

JOHNSON, James Weldon. The Book of American Negro Spirituals. New York, 1925.

First edition, presentation copy, of the Harlem Renaissance classic, inscribed to a famous sports columnist and short story writer: "For Ring W. Lardner with sincere regards—James Weldon Johnson." $6500.

"LOVED LIBERTY AS WELL AS DID PATRICK HENRY… DESERVED IT AS MUCH AS THOMAS JEFFERSON"

(DOUGLASS, Frederick) (GRIFFITHS, Julia). Autographs for Freedom. Boston / Cleveland / London, 1853.

First edition of a powerful volume of nearly 40 works by leading abolitionists, together in print for the first time, co-edited by Frederick Douglass and Julia Griffiths, containing the first publication in book form of Douglass' novella, The Heroic Slave, his only work of fiction, invoking the defining leadership of fugitive slave Madison Washington in the 1841 successful slave rebellion on the Creole, a core event in the history of the "revolutionary Black Atlantic." With engraved frontispiece and two full-page engraved illustrations, especially rare in original unrestored cloth. $6000.

"NEITHER SLAVERY NOR INVOLUNTARY SERVITUDE… SHALL EXIST WITHIN THE UNITED STATES"

(TRUTH, Sojourner) (THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT) (HAWKINS, W.G.). National Freedman. Vol I. No. 11. New York, December 15, 1865 (i.e. December 18, 1865).

First issue of the December 1865 issue of the National Freedman, prominently displaying the 13th Amendment on the front wrapper, this landmark publication also containing the dramatic eyewitness account of a streetcar conductor's attack on Sojourner Truth that led her to defiantly press charges for assault and battery, an exceptionally rare publication in fragile original wrappers. $4800.

"WE OWE SO MUCH TO HER COURAGE, TO HER WILLINGNESS TO SPEAK OUT" (JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG): PROUD SHOES, INSCRIBED IN THE YEAR OF PUBLICATION BY PAULI MURRAY

MURRAY, Pauli. Proud Shoes. New York, 1956.

First edition of Murray's powerful history of her family—looks "unflinchingly at issues of racism, sexism and miscegenation… a microcosm of African American history”—inscribed by her in the year of publication, "November 25, 1956, For Mr. and Mrs. R— W— with good wishes— Cordially— Pauli Murray," in very scarce dust jacket. $4200.

"THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE'S FIRST BOOK OF POETRY": FIRST EDITION OF CLAUDE MCKAY'S HARLEM SHADOWS, 1922

MCKAY, Claude. Harlem Shadows. New York, 1922.

First edition of the Jamaican-born McKay's groundbreaking volume of over 50 poems, together in book form for the first time, including his "calling card… the anthemic Shakespearean sonnet 'If We Must Die,' one of the landmark political poems of the 20th century," along with profoundly influential poems such as "The Harlem Dancer," "White City" and "The Lynching," a splendid copy in original cloth. $4200.

"THEY ASKED ME… IF MY BLACKNESS, WOULD IT RUB OFF? I SAID, ASK YOUR MAMA"

HUGHES, Langston. Ask Your Mama. New York, 1961.

First edition of Hughes' epic poem, hailed as a "milestone" in its celebration of African American blues, jazz and the tradition of the "dozens," together with a mimeographed typescript (presumably for performance) with occasional variations in musical cues from the book. $3800.

"THE TRUE BIRTH OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT"

(BLACK HISTORY). Photograph, Panoramic. Fort Bragg, North Carolina, circa 1943.

Exceptional panoramic photograph of WWII Black soldiers of the 318th Combat Engineers, who served in the segregated 93rd Infantry Division that fought in the Pacific, returning home as war's end to a surge in racist riots and lynchings. $3400.

“THE MOST RECOGNIZED SPOKESMAN OF HIS GENERATION”

WASHINGTON, Booker T. Up From Slavery. New York, 1901.

First edition of Washington's landmark autobiography, with frontispiece portrait, in original gilt-stamped cloth. $3200.

INSCRIBED BY CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS

LEWIS, John. Walking with the Wind. New York, 1998.

First edition of Congressman Lewis' pivotal account of the Civil Rights movement that transformed America, warmly inscribed by him on the colophon page, "To C— W— Thank you for all of your help and support over the years. With faith and hope, Keep Your Eyes on the Prize. Best Wishes, John Lewis." $3000.

INSCRIBED BY CLAUDE BROWN

BROWN, Claude. Manchild in the Promised land. New York, 1965.

First edition of Claude Brown's moving 1965 account of his journey out of poverty and crime in Harlem, inscribed by him, "To B— L— from Claude Brown," in scarce original dust jacket. $2400.

SIGNED LIMITED FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY CLARENCE MUSE, FROM THE LIBRARY OF RENOWNED FILM DIRECTOR GEORGE CUKOR

MUSE, Clarence and ARLEN, David. Way Down South. Hollywood, 1932.

Signed limited first edition, number 631 of 1000 copies signed by Black actor Clarence Muse, an especially memorable association copy additionally inscribed by him on the limitation page, "Sincerely your, Clarence Muse," from the library of famed film director George Cukor with his bookplate, coauthored by Muse and David Arlen, featuring dramatic woodcut-engraved illustrations by artist Blanding Sloan, in original pictorial boards. $2200.

SIGNED BY OCTAVIA BUTLER

BUTLER, Octavia E. Parable of the Talents. New York / Toronto, 1998.

First edition of one of Butler's final novels, the concluding work in her Parable Series—a "masterpiece" (New York Times)—boldly signed on the title page by her. $1800.

WARMLY INSCRIBED BY PAUL ROBESON

ROBESON, Paul. Photograph inscribed. No place, no date.

Original photograph of Paul Robeson, warmly inscribed: “Every good wish, Paul Robeson.” $1800.

"A LANDMARK OF RESEARCH AND SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT" (RICHARD WRIGHT)

(WRIGHT, Richard) DRAKE, St. Clair and CAYTON, Horace R. Black Metropolis. New York, 1945.

First edition of the signal work by preeminent African American sociologists Drake and Cayton, "one of the best urban studies produced by American scholarship" (New York Times), inscribed by Cayton, a close friend of Richard Wright, "To M— K— with regards, Horace R. Cayton." $1600.

AFRICAN AMERICANS "FOUGHT IN THE REVOLUTION AND ALL SUBSEQUENT WARS, BUT THE SUM OF THEIR SACRIFICES STILL HAD NOT BROUGHT FULL CITIZENSHIP"

HEYWOOD, Chester D. Negro Combat Troops. Worcester, Mass. 1928.

First edition of one of the very few published records of African Americans in combat in WWI, authored by the white captain of the 371st, with photographic frontispiece, two large folding battle maps and many in-text illustrations, a handsome copy in original cloth. $1250.

"ONE UNEASY AND FREQUENTLY ANGRY BLACK AMERICAN"

ROWAN, Carl T. Just Between Us Blacks. New York, 1974.

First edition of one of Rowan's most controversial books, a very scarce presentation/association copy inscribed on the half title by him to the distinguished judge who early defied death threats to desegregate New Orleans schools, "For J— Skelly Wright, who had guts when it was most needed—Carl T. Rowan." $1200.

"WE ALL CRY FOR FREEDOM!": THE MOVEMENT, WITH TEXT BY LORRAINE HANSBERRY, FEATURING PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANNY LYON, ROBERT FRANK AND ROY DE CAVARA

HANSBERRY, Lorraine. Movement. New York, 1964.

First edition of this powerful visual record of America's Civil Rights struggle, with text by Lorraine Hansberry—her last book published before her death at age 34—accompanied by 148 black-and-white photogravures, most by award-winning photographer Danny Lyon, the first appearance in book form of his work, along with striking images by Robert Frank, David Heath, Roy De Carava and others. $1200.

"THE CENTRAL IMPORTANCE OF SONG TO THE MOVEMENT"

(LYON, Danny) (LEWIS, John) CARAWAN, Guy and CARAWAN, Candie. We Shall Overcome. New York, 1963.

First edition, first printing, of one of the first and most influential works issued by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), with over 40 songs & over 50 photographic illustrations, many by Danny Lyon, whose powerful images of young black activists and ordinary men and women affirm that "every person in the ranks of the movement had already achieved a revolution." $1050.

"ESSENTIAL TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE AMERICAN PAST AND THE AMERICAN PRESENT"

WHITEHEAD, Colson. Underground Railroad. New York, 2016.

First edition of Whitehead's National Book Award winner, boldly signed on the title page in the year of publication by him with his date of "9/14/16." $950.

SIGNED BY ALEX HALEY, FIRST EDITION OF ROOTS

HALEY, Alex. Roots. Garden City, 1976.

First trade edition of Haley's acclaimed historical novel, signed by him. $950.

“PHILADELPHIA’S BLACK HISTORY MIRRORS THE LARGER STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICANS”

(SOCIETY OF FRIENDS). Statistical Inquiry. Philadelphia, 1849.

First edition of the highly influential second census of Philadelphia’s African Americans, a work cited by W.E.B. Du Bois in his own history, The Philadelphia Negro (1899), and published by the Society of Friends to record the “distress and degradation which prevail… most of which can be distinctly traced to the evil influences of slavery.” $900.

"COURTS FEEL IT IS NOT THEIR BUSINESS TO CONCERN THEMSELVES WITH THE CAUSES OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS. BUT IT IS THE BUSINESS OF AMERICANS"

MURRAY, Pauli and KEMPTON, Murray. Rights of Man Are Worth Defending. New York, 1942.

Second edition of this civil rights pamphlet, published the same year as the first, including an early printing (preceding the first separate publication) of Pauli Murray and Murray Kempton's important article on the improper conviction of Odell Walker for murder by an all-white jury selected from poll-tax payers. $350.