1601

The Most Notorious Book of the Modern Era - Signed.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,750.00 USD Estimated At:5,500.00 - 7,000.00 USD
The Most Notorious Book of the Modern Era - Signed.
Fatefully dated edition of Mein Kampf, Munich, 1933 printing - the year Hitler seized power. Milk chocolate-sepia photographic portrait plate, facing title page, of a young Adolf Hitler, genuine signature in blue, beneath printed signature. 4 3/4 x 7 1/2, 781 + (10) pp. advertisements at rear of large assortment of other Nazi books for sale by this NSDAP printer. Eagle atop wreath enclosing swastika brass-stamped on black linen, top edge green. 1996 authentication by H. Keith Thompson, Jr., important pioneer autograph dealer, Third Reich expert, longtime cataloguer and partner of Charles Hamilton in the years of their incomparable sales at the Waldorf-Astoria (and member of Adm. Byrd's Antarctic Expedition). Signature plate detached from binding, the enamel plate and vellum text papers absorbing binder's glue differently, minute tears at outside edge, else fine, with original tissue guard leaf; inner hinge broken at flyleaf (only) facing title, minor cover warp, shelf rub at bottom fore-edge, else internally clean and fine plus. With copy of Thompson's article on Hitler signatures in Pen & Quill, 1995: "Having handled thousands of Hitler documents over a period of more than 40 years...." * With, first complete American edition, "Unexpurgated - Annotated - Complete and Unabridged," published by Reynal & Hitchcock, N.Y., 1939. 5 1/2 x 8 1/2, 993 pp., red cloth. "Publishers' Note: Both the international situation and certain publishing exigencies have dictated the preparation of this book at a far higher rate of speed than we should have liked...A book which is likely to remain the most important political tract of our time, and which is now for the first time available in complete form to the American reader...Crises...culminating for the moment in the pact of Munich, have awakened the American public as never before to the seriousness of the world and to themselves of the Nazi program...There are undoubtedly passages of great importance, which now appear in English for the first time...." Hitler's "Conclusion," written in 1926, on the final page: "...A State which, in the epoch of race poisoning, dedicates itself to the cherishing of its best racial elements, must some day be master of the world. Let the adherents of our movement never forget this...." Few neat pencil notes of an alert reader, light wear, else very fine. Parallels to modern times are inescapable. Evidently a variant binding; the "People's Edition" was bound in blue. No Hitler-signed books of any edition on abebooks. An early two-volume edition, each signed by Hitler, sold in 2014 for 64,850.00; in 2015, a first edition realized 43,750.00. Hitler-signed books of any edition are now elusive on the market. (2 pcs.)