Description
Signed first edition of Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King, Jr., with an incredible collection of signatures, including Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Abernathy, Jesse Jackson, James Farmer, Julian Bond, and Shirley Chisholm.
Octavo, 230pp, [2]. Blue cloth covers, title in silver on black spine. Stated “First Edition” on copyright page, with publisher’s “H-H” code. Solid text block, rubbing to head and tail of spine, otherwise fine condition. In the publisher’s first state dust jacket, $2.95 retail price on front flap, lightly shelf worn. Small chips from edges of spine, corners, and hinge flaps, with small piece of archival tape reinforcing spine on verso. Housed in a custom cloth clamshell, title in gilt on black morocco label affixed to spine.
Signed by the author on the front free endpaper: “Best Wishes / Martin Luther King Jr.”
Additionally inscribed by numerous members of the Civil Rights movement on the front endpapers. Signatures vary between small inscriptions, autographs, and clipped signatures pasted in.
This work includes signatures from the following notable individuals:
– “Best Wishes / Martin Luther King Jr.”
– “With best wishes / from your friends / Martin Luther King Jr. (RDA) / Ralph D. Abernathy” Ralph Abernathy (1926-1990), a founding member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
– Twice signed by Jesse Jackson: “4/28/88 Peace! Jesse Jackson”
– James Farmer, a fellow nonviolent protest supporter and initiator of the first Freedom Ride in 1961.
– Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress representing New York’s 12th district (1968).
– Julian Bond, founding member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, served a total ten terms in the Georgia state legislature, and was chairman of the NAACP from 1998-2010.
– John Lewis (clipped signature)
– Coretta Scott King (clipped signature)
