Sale 2503 - Printed & Manuscript African Americana, March 28, 2019

138 c   (BLACK PANTHERS.) Lester, Julius; compiler. Our Folk Tales: High John the Conqueror and Other Afro-American Tales. Numerous color illustrations. [39] pages. Oblong 4to, 9 x 12 inches, original spiral binding with cardstock covers illustrated with outlines of Africa and the United States; moderate foxing on cover and title page, otherwise minimal wear; signed and inscribed on verso of the title page “All the best! Julius Lester 17 July 2014.” [Lowndes County, AL?]: Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee, circa 1967 [1,200/1,800] first edition . While registering voters throughout the deep south as a member of SNCC, Julius Lester collected these African-American folk songs and tales, which later became part of his 1969 book “Black Folk Tales.” The title page has a black panther reading a red colored book to 3 young children. Lester has stated that this was published in-house at SNCC and he believes that less than 1,000 copies were printed. Lester signed this copy for the consignor. The illustrator Jennifer Lawson, an African-American artist, is now senior vice-president at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. One other copy traced at auction, an unsigned example at Swann, 26 March 2015, lot 195.