Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
MacLeish, Archibald. Land of the Free. Harcourt, Brace and Company, New York, 1938.
Price: US$95.00 + shipping
Description: Small quarto. Unpaginated. ff.(88), and (89)-93, (1)pp. Including a list of pictures. Tan linen lettered in black. The first part of the book consists of 88 black & white photos printed on rectos, each with a facing page of MacLeish's poetry. Spine and edges of covers a bit sun-darkened, and there is a small (1/2") erosive area at the foot of the spine. Internally clean and sound. Photo credits for this work name Dorothea Lange, Margaret Bourke-White, Walker Evans, Ben Shahn, Arthur Rothstein and others. Bookplate of Dorothy and George Dieter on front pastedown. Abstract: "'Land of the Free' is the opposite of a book of poems illustrated by photographs. It is a book of photographs illustrated by a poem. The photographs, most of which were taken for the Resettlement Administration existed before the poem was written. The book is the result of an attempt to give these photographs an accompaniment of words. In so far as the form of the book is unusual, it is a form imposed by the difficulties of that attempt. The original purpose had been to write some sort of text to which these photographs might serve as commentary. But so great was the power and the stubborn inward livingness of these vivid American documents that the result was a reversal of that plan. The poem was written in July and August, 1937, at Conway, Massachusetts"--A. Mac L.
Seller: ERIC CHAIM KLINE, BOOKSELLER (ABAA ILAB), Santa Monica, CA, U.S.A.
MacLeish, Archibald. Land of the Free. Harcourt, Brace & Company, New York, 1938.
Price: US$130.87 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: With plates. Slight soiling to back endpapers. Small spot of foxing to front endpapers. Slight wear & slight soiling to spine, covers & corners. ; "Land of the Free," published in 1938 and authored by Archibald MacLeish, is a compelling combination of poetry and photography that captures the essence of the American experience during the Great Depression. The book employs a unique narrative style, weaving MacLeish's poignant, reflective poems with powerful photographic images sourced from the era, portraying the struggles and resilience of Americans during this tumultuous period. The photos complement the text, enhancing the emotional gravity of the themes discussed, such as hardship, community, and the enduring spirit of the American people. The work is not only a literary achievement but also an important historical artifact, providing a multidimensional perspective on the economic and social challenges of the 1930s in the United States. "Land of the Free" was once a part of the extensive photography book collection of Chris Steele-Perkins, a renowned British photographer and a significant member of Magnum Photos. Steele-Perkins, celebrated for his profound and empathetic documentation of societies, added this book to his collection, highlighting his interest in photography that narrates powerful social stories and historical moments. His role in Magnum, an international photographic cooperative known for its commitment to humanistic photography, was pivotal. Steele-Perkins contributed to Magnums legacy by capturing transformative events and everyday life, focusing on themes of migration, culture, and identity across the globe, particularly in Britain and the developing world. His collection, including works like "Land of the Free," reflects his dedication to using photography as a tool for social commentary and historical documentation. ; Quarto; 93 pages
Seller: Literary Cat Books, Machynlleth, Powys, WALES, United Kingdom
Price: US$167.32 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 1938 Harcourt, Brace tan cloth shows light spotting as do end papers, ownership ink to flyleaf, tight binding otherwise unmarked light chip to the jacket. Please email for photos. Larger books or sets may require additional shipping charges. Books sent via US Postal
Seller: Griffin Books, Stamford, CT, U.S.A.
MacLeish, Archibald. Land of The Free. Harcourt, Brace And Company, 1938.
Price: US$208.13 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Jacket torn. Some toning to boards.
Seller: Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada
MACLEISH, Archibald. Land of the Free. Harcourt, Brace, New York, 1938.
Price: US$550.00 + shipping
Description: Small quarto (23cm). Tan cloth boards, lettered blue; 93pp; illus. dustjacket. Review copy, with review stamp on front endpaper. Bernarda Bryson Shahn's copy, with her signature on front endpaper and ink note above publisher's stamp: "Please Return to Bernarda B. Shahn." A worn copy; covers soiled and toned, with split to cloth at spine; contents a little shaken; Good. Macleish's book-length poem, illustrated with 88 photographs by FSA photographers, is among the high points of Depression-era photobooks. 88 leaves of plates, each with accompanying text by MacLeish on facing page. Of the 88 photographs, there are four by Shahn; the majority are by Dorothea Lange. One assumes that the Shahns were on the distribution list for advance copies by virtue of Ben's association with the project; whether they in fact penned a review of the bookis unknown. In any case, a notable association copy. PARR/BADGER, v.1, p.180.
Seller: Lorne Bair Rare Books, ABAA, Winchester, VA, U.S.A.
MacLeish, Archibald. Land of the Free. Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1938.
Price: US$650.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Affixed to the front endpaper is a clipped slip of paper with the typed words, "Faithfully yours, Archibald MacLeish, The Librarian of Congress" and SIGNED by Archibald MacLeish above his typed name. The volume is bumped on the spine ends, has a bookplate of bibliophile Melba Berry Bennett on the front pastedown, and there is a rippling effect to the first 7 leaves caused by the adhesive used to paste the MacLeish signature to the front endpaper. The unclipped dust jacket, sleeved in mylar, is chipped on the spine ends and corners (to include a sizable 1/2" long by 3/4" deep at the base of the rear panel near the fold), and a 1/2" closed tear with crease on the top of the rear panel. There is also some staining along the rear fold.
Seller: Trilby & Co. Books, San Jose, CA, U.S.A.