Description
The scarce first edition, first printing of The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, published in 1923.
Octavo, [2], 107pp, [3]. Black cloth, title stamped in gilt, with notable rubbing to gilt on spine. Title and illustration stamped in bright gilt on front cover. Black topstain. The first printing, with “Published September, 1923” on copyright page with no additional printings listed. Solid text block, sunning to spine, some rubbing to covers. Thin split to front hinge, otherwise fine internally. Previous ownership inscription and bookseller’s impression to front free endpaper. Complete with twelve full-page collotype plates, recreated from original illustrations by Gibran. Housed in a custom black cloth clamshell, title in gilt on black morocco label affixed to spine.
Alfred A. Knopf’s first printing of The Prophet consisted of roughly 2,000 copies, which the firm did not expect to sell through. The second printing of The Prophet appeared in March of 1924 and has remained in print since. (Time, 1965)
