Fine Clothes to the Jew
New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1927.
First edition, first printing. Signed by Langston Hughes on the front free endpaper and inscribed: "For Edward, these songs and poems. New York, April 20, 1927." 89, [2] pp. Bound in publisher's striped paper-covered boards over black spine cloth, black topstain; lacking the dust jacket. Very Good with rubbing to covers and fading to topstain; corners rounded. Front hinge starting, binding held by stitches in multiple places, contents lightly thumbed. Dickinson 2.
A rare and much-read inscribed first edition of Langston Hughes' folk-lyric poetry collection, his second book. The Black press disliked the collection's gutter setting and airing of dirty laundry (the title refers to the practice of pawning clothes for cash). Hughes' angry response was: "I have never pretended to be keeping a literary grazing pasture with food to suit all breeds of cattle." He had always drawn inspiration from the people he called "the low-down folks," admiring their pride and creative powers.
Price: $4,800