“MUST READING FOR ALL CITIZENS WHO CARE ABOUT LIBERTIES”: SCARCE SIGNED LIMITED FIRST EDITION OF STORY OF MY LIFE, ONE OF ONLY 294 COPIES SIGNED BY CLARENCE DARROW

DARROW, Clarence. The Story of My Life. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1932. Octavo, original half tan buckram, red morocco spine label, uncut, original box with printed paper limitation label. $3800.

Signed limited first edition of Darrow’s autobiography, number 158 of only 294 copies signed by Darrow—"one of the great advocates of his generation"—with color frontispiece, in original box.

"When Clarence Darrow died in 1938 at the age of 81, few disputed that he was one of the great advocates of his generation. There were other lawyers in his lifetime who contributed more to the development of legal science, who rose to positions of greater influence, or who won larger financial rewards, but perhaps none who could equal Darrow's eloquence before a jury or who could match his record as a rough and tumble crusader for the common man" (NYU, 1078). Darrow's "Story of My Life is still must reading for all citizens who care about liberties and our legal system" (Alan Dershowitz). "For 40 years the shambling figure, drawling speech, and acid wit of Clarence Darrow delighted audiences throughout the nation at his lectures and debates on many topics: questioning free will and immortality and God; opposing the tariff and prohibition and the League of Nations; advocating the closed shop, the abolition of capital punishment and child labor, reform of the judicial and penal systems…. He wrote profusely, in a forceful if undisciplined way" (ANB). Darrow's autobiography stands as a classic of the genre, recounting with eloquence and humor the landmark legal cases in which he took part. Signed limited first edition of 294 copies, along with 15 presentation copies. With color frontispiece, 18 pages of illustrations. Bookstamp of Irving Thomas, with laid-in postcard (measures 3-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches) to Dr. Thomas, dated "February 28-th—1934," written in typescript by Darrow's secretary, expressing the lawyer's gratitude for an unspecified gift and reading in part: "What a beautiful, delicate piece of workmanship,—and exquisite as the tribute to Mr. Darrow! He will greatly appreciate the compliment…" Very light occasional penciled marginalia at pagination.

Scarce original box with expert restoration; book with only lightest soiling to spine, light wear to spine label, minor rubs to front corners, near-fine.