LANGSTON HUGHES

HUGHES, Langston (1902-1967). The First Book of Jazz. New York: Franklin Watts, 1955.

First edition, signed and inscribed by Langston Hughes to his British publisher Sir Victor Gollancz: ‘Especially for Victor Gollancz – this primer of jazz – Sincerely – Langston Hughes, dated New York, April 4, 1955.’

The third book in Hughes’ “First Book” series, The First Book of Jazz was praised for its ‘refreshing lack of pomposity and… clarity which will delight those who might be, reasonably enough, confused at the differences between cool and hot, swing and bebop… Homage is paid to the influences and achievements of the great figures of jazz – especially to Louis Armstrong, whose career, says Hughes, “is almost the whole story of orchestral jazz in America.”’ New York Times, 1955.

Square quarto (220 x 189 mm). Illustrations by Cliff Roberts, including dust-jacket and endpapers. Original tan cloth, pictorial endpapers, original dust-jacket. Provenance: Sir Victor Gollancz (1893-1967; British publisher, authorial presentation inscription in blue ink to the half-title).

[With:] – Ask Your Mama, 12 Moods for Jazz. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1961. First edition. [And:] BODENHEIM, Maxwell (1892-1954). Bringing Jazz. New York: Horace Liveright, 1930. First edition. Authorial presentation inscription to publisher Edward W. Titus ‘To Monsieur Titus – an evangelist who grew absent-minded and shrugged his shoulders’, dated 18 March 1930.