Description
First edition of The Story of the Negro: The Rise of the Race from Slavery by Booker T. Washington, published in 1909.
Octavo, [two volumes], vii, [1], 332pp; v, [1], 437pp, [1]. Red cloth, thin border to front covers. Title in gilt on spines. Top edge gilt. Stated “Published, November, 1909” on copyright page of both volumes, no additional printings listed. Solid text block, light wear to edges and corners, faint dust remnants to top edge. Offsetting to Preface of Volume I from laid-in newspaper clipping. A near fine set. Includes a frontispiece of Booker T. Washington in Volume I. Previous owner’s inscription on front endpapers of both volumes. (Blockson 10111)
From the library of W. Brooke Graves, a political scientist at Temple University. Housed in a custom red cloth clamshell, title in gilt over black morocco label over spine. Scarce in this condition.
Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) was a leading African American educator and author, his most famous work being, “Up from Slavery” (1901), an autobiography detailing his journey from slavery to becoming the head of Tuskegee Institute, a major center for African American education. Other works include “The Future of the American Negro” (1899), “Character Building” (1902), “My Larger Education” (1911), and “Working with the Hands” (1904).
