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Author: Gibran, Kahlil
Title: The Prophet
Place Published: New York
Publisher:Alfred A. Knopf
Date Published: 1924
Description: 107 pp. With 12 plates from drawings by the author. 20.5x14 cm (8x5½"), original black cloth, later dust jacket. First Edition, third printing.Signed presentation copy of Kahlil Gibran's masterpiece, inscribed on the front free endpaper, "With kindest thoughts, to Harriette M. Fowler, from Kahlil Gibran, 1924." The book was published in August 1924, just about the time Fowler and her business partner Josephine M. Quimby, both single women, signed a lease renting two buildings in Boston from Gibran and his business partner, Syrian immigrant Faris Malouf, which they had just purchased in what was to become a very unsuccessful entry into real estate speculation. For more information on the Malouf-Gibran partnership, and Fowler and Quimby (the two intended to operate a for-women-only business, Fenway Business Women's Club, from the site), go to https://www.kahlilgibran.com/latest/92-kahlil-gibran-and-faris-malouf-the-story-of-an-unsuccessful-venture-1924-1925.html. A picture of the inscription in this book is included on the website. The dust jacket is from the Seventh Printing of the book, but seems to be one of the earliest to be found, and is in the style of the first and early printing jackets. The Prophet was one of the best selling books of the 20th century. Since its first appearance in 1923 The Prophet has never been out of print and has gone through more than 160 printings, over 100 million copies have been sold. It has been translated into more than 40 languages. Behind William Shakespeare and Lao-Tzu, Kahlil Gibran ranks as the third most widely read poet in history. Copies of early editions are quite rare, those in early jackets more so, and inscribed presentation copies with important association exceptionally so. There are three newsclippings regarding Gibran's death glued to the front endpapers, not touching the inscription, and an 11-line inscription dated May 12, '97, beneath the inscription; offset from one of the newsclippings affects half of the Gibran inscription, but not its legibility.From the Kahlil Gibran Collective website: "By October 1924, Gibran was despondent over the deal. He and Faris had committed over $12,000 for payment of the mortgages and renovations instead of toward their profit. Quimby and Fowler were unable to provide security for the lease and with three existing mortgages the men were unable to raise sufficient funds for the expenses and the workers on site, even at an exorbitant interest rate. Gibran confided in his friend, Barbara Young, that he momentarily considered filing a lawsuit against the women and that Fowler had audaciously asked him to sign her copy of The Prophet, which he signed stating, `With kindest thoughts.' Gibran confessed to another longtime friend, Mary Haskell, he had been greedy or stupid as a small person `trying to do big things.' He then asked her if she knew of anyone who could help `two honest men going through financial difficulties'..."

A little soiling and edge wear to jacket, tears along spine; covers with faint stains, spine fading; marginal chips and short tears to a few plates; very good in like jacket.