Description
Signed first edition of Fine Clothes to the Jew by Langston Hughes, inscribed in the year of publication.
Octavo, 89pp. Patterned paper-colored boards, black cloth spine. Black topstain, mostly faded. Slight bow to covers, worn corners, internally bright. Lacking the scarce dust jacket.
Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: “For my friend, Mr. Ferguson, these poems of Harlem and points south, Sincerely, Langston Hughes / Lincoln University, January 17, 1927.”
This poetry collection stirred both acclaim and controversy upon its publication in 1927. Langston Hughes was celebrated for his unapologetic portrayal of the African American experience, particularly during the Harlem Renaissance. However, some critics and readers were unsettled by the collection’s bold exploration of racial identity and social issues. “Fine Clothes to the Jew” was a popular phrase in Harlem at the time, referencing the practice of selling clothes to pawn shops, primarily Jewish-owned, when in need of money. Despite the criticism, the collection ultimately became a significant contribution to African American literature.
