Lot 320: GIBRAN, KAHLIL

319. KAHLIL GIBRAN (1883 - 1931) Lebanese born poet, artist and author of popular books in English and Arabic including The Prophet and The Earth Gods. Trained under Rodin in Paris, his drawings are considered lyrically ethereal, though he is best known for the universally spiritual themes in his writing. A rare signed book, a copy of Gibran's longest English work, Jesus, The Son of Man, 1928, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 215pp., first and second printings before publication. Written at the height of his international popularity, this tome shows Gibran's self-invented style of extremely brief paragraph phrasing, taking on his interpretation of the life of Jesus as told through those he knew. Attractive sentiment and signature on front endpaper in black ink, "With the kindest thoughts of Kahlil Gibran, 1928" beneath an inscription in another hand. Book is nicely illustrated, with 15 plates including color inserts and also inclusive of the piece "Jesus, Son of Man" which resides in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Interior pages are very good, still crisp with uncut leaves toward the rear, slightly yellow but uniform throughout. Cover shows slight rubbing to inlaid lettering and corners, as well as upper and lower edges of spine, otherwise good.$600-800