Lot 354: WRIGHT, Richard (1908-1960). Native Son. New York and London: Harper & Brothers, 1940.

8 o. Original blue cloth; printed dust jacket (price clipped, spine lightly wrinkled, some light edgewear). Provenance : A.B. Hanson, Jr. (presentation inscription). FIRST EDITION. PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY WRIGHT TO A.B. HANSON, JR. on the front free endpaper: "To--A.B. Hanson, Jr., with best wishes Sincerely Richard Wright 6/29/40 Chicago." Hanson was a Wilmington businessman and admirer of Wright. He had contacted Wright through a Chicago area bookshop, after which Wright sent him this copy. [ With: ] WRIGHT, Richard. How "Bigger" Was Born. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1940. 8 o. Original yellow printed wrappers (soiled and stained). Provenance : Willard Motley (1912-1965), novelist (presentation inscription). FIRST EDITION, PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED BY WRIGHT TO FELLOW AFRICAN AMERICAN NOVELIST WILLARD MOTLEY on the dedication page: "To--Willard & Marie with my best Dick 10/9/40 Brooklyn." Motley's first novel, Knock on Any Door, adopted much of Wright's naturalistic style, and was favorably compared by the New York Times to Native Son. Native Son was first published 1 March 1940 and sold over a quarter of a million copies within three weeks. It became the first Book-of-the-Month Club selection by an African American writer. (2).