"THE MOST RECOGNIZED SPOKESMAN OF HIS GENERATION": FIRST EDITION OF BOOKER T. WASHINGTON'S UP FROM SLAVERY, 1901

WASHINGTON, Booker T. Up From Slavery. An Autobiography. New York: Doubleday, Page, 1901. Octavo, original gilt-stamped burgundy cloth, top edge gilt. $3200.

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

Booker T. Washington, "the son of a black slave and a white man, was born into slavery on a Virginia plantation. Freed, he taught himself to read from Webster's 'Blue-back spelling book,' adopted his inspirational surname, and walked most of the 500 miles to attend Hampton Institute for vocational training. Ten years later, aged 25, he was selected to head Tuskegee Institute… His leadership in education as well as his talents as a public speaker made him the outstanding black man of his time" (Hart, 803). "Counted among the ablest public speakers of his time… he became the most recognized spokesman of his generation. Washington's Up From Slavery is listed among the most widely read autobiographies. It was originally published as a serial in the Outlook Magazine… and was ultimately published in more than 12 languages" (Blockson, Commented Bibliography 51). Includes the text of Washington's famous "Atlanta Compromise" speech of 1895, which set the tone of race relations in America for decades to come. Containing tipped-in photogravure frontispiece with facsimile signature. Title page variations noted: this copy without "Author of 'The Future of the American Negro'" printed beneath Washington's name, a variation sometimes referred to as the "first state," and less common in the trade, though no priority has been definitively established. Without dust jacket, as issued. Brignano 270. Blockson 10188. Owner pencil signature; infrequent pencil marginalia.

Text fine, cloth clean and fresh, with just a touch of rubbing to extremities, gilt bright. A lovely, near-fine copy.