Fine Books & Manuscripts, including Americana

SINCLAIR, Upton (1878–1968). Boston. New York: Albert & Charles Boni, 1928. 2 volumes, 8vo. Original gilt–stamped pictorial cloth (extreme corners a bit rubbed, some light darkening to spines). Provenance: Earl R. Fanjoy (booklabel); R.O. Brewster (penciled signature). FIRST EDITION, INSCRIBED BY SINCLAIR TO CLARENCE DARROW on half–title. Both Sinclair and Darrow were noted political activists and self–proclaimed socialists. In September 1905, Darrow joined Sinclair and others to form the Intercollegiate Socialist Society which promoted socialist ideas among America’s college population. In 1928, Sinclair’s Boston would lose out on the Pulitzer Prize due to its “socialistic tendencies” which made it unsuitable according to the Prize committee’s chairman.