The Voices of Silence

New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc. [printed by the Imprimerie Georges Lang, Paris], 1953. First and Limited Edition. Leather bound. Near fine. First edition in English, one of 160 copies, octavo size, 663 pp., signed by André Malraux, in slipcase. Georges André Malraux (1901-1976) lived a life of exploration, social activism, and danger, at one point being a Marxist only, later, to turn back to the hope of Western culture and ideals. He had a deep and abiding interest in art and its effect on us as human beings: "to Malraux aesthetic ideas, like the philosophy of action expressed in his own novels, would always be part of man’s eternal questioning of destiny and his response to it" (n.b., from the web site of the Encyclopedia Britannica).

His first work was published in 1926 (a novel); for his 1933 masterpiece "La Condition humaine", he was awarded the Prix Goncourt. This work is the first edition (in English) of the one-volume edition of his first book on art, "The Psychology of Art", published in three volumes (1947–1949).

___DESCRIPTION: Bound in full crimson leather by Georges Gauche, Paris, gilt lettering on the spine, top edge gilt, patterned endpapers, limitation page precedes the half-title, this no. 8 of 160 copies and is signed by Malraux, the books is replete with reproductions of paintings and sculptures (mostly black-and-white with a few in colour); octavo size (8 7/8" by 7 3/8"), pagination: [1-11] 12-661 [1, blank] [1, printer's statement]. In the publisher's slipcase covered and lined with red paper.

___CONDITION: Volume near fine, the leather soft and supple, the boards clean, straight corners without rubbing, a strong, square text block with solid hinges, the interior is clean and bright, and entirely free of prior owner markings; light sunning and a few stray marks to the spine and one mark to the gilt on the top edge, else fine. The slipcase very good, while some of the seams are beginning to split it is still strong and sturdy, with overall light wear and sunning.

___POSTAGE: International customers, please note the following: (i) additional postage may apply as the standard does not always cover costs, please inquire for details; and (ii) any taxes, duty, or tariffs charged by your country will, of necessity, be your responsibility.

___Swan's Fine Books is pleased to be a member of the ABAA, ILAB, and IOBA and we stand behind every book we sell. Please contact us with any questions you may have, we are here to help. (Inventory #: 24092506)