The First Book of Africa
Price: $2,750.00
Hard Cover. New York: Franklin Watts, 1960. First Edition. Near Fine / Dust Jacket Included.
Illustrated with photographs. First edition, first printing. Signed and inscribed by Hughes in green ink on the front free endpaper: "For Mr. and Mrs. / W. W. Perkins ~ / Sincerely, / Langston Hughes". Publisher's cream cloth, with front board and spine lettered in black; in its original brown pictorial dust jacket, with black and white photos to panels, lettered in black and white, and $1.95 price to front flap. Near fine book, with foxing to boards, and light soiling to pp. 4 and 7; good unclipped dust jacket, with moderate toning and wear to spine, red and brown staining to front panel, and edgewear including few closed tears to panels. Overall, a sound copy, very scarce inscribed. The First Book of Africa is the fifth of five educational "First Book" volumes written by Hughes on the theme of Black history, the other four being "Negroes," "Rhythms," "Jazz," and "The West Indies." In this book, Hughes provides an historical overview of Africa and the many unique cultures and countries within it. One of the leading writers of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes (1901-1967) captured the Black experience by weaving accessible vernacular language and jazz and blues rhythms into his work. Item #LH005
