CHAIRMAN MAO “Little Red Book" (May 1964), 1st Edition RARE

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Description: MAO ZHU XI YU LU [Quotations of Chairman Mao, in Chinese], edited and published by the Central Intelligence Bureau of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. No location but probably Peking [May 1964]. Half-title printed in red, title-page in red and green inks, portrait of Chairman Mao (printed in brown ink) and containing the very rare Lin Biao facsimile calligraphic endorsement intact ("Study Chairman Mao's writings, follow his teachings and act according to his instructions"). Then follows a printed text introduction (1/2), its Table of Contents (1/2) and the text itself (1/250) without any additional colophon or printing history (as is found in virtually all later printings). 16mo, original printed paper wrappers having the signature on front cover of Comrade Ma Ping Sheng. Its binding is stained, also chipped at lower spine end, rust damage from old staples (especially on upper cover), top right corner of pages lightly creased, fore-edges partly stained but still a good complete copy for this constantly used and revered manual on how to live one's life under the glory of Mao.

First edition, 1st binding (afterwards issued in red vinyl plastic which ultimately became the symbol of the Cultural Revolution 1966-1976). It is amongst the most frequently reprinted books ever published, second only to the Bible, with an estimated 5 billion copies produced during the past forty years. The early printing history of QUOTATIONS OF CHAIRMAN MAO, aka the "Little Red Book", is amply recorded in essay by our associate Oliver Lei Han originally printed published in the Antiquarian Book Review (November 2003) and expanded for the Bibliographical Society of America on their BibSite /Han/index.html

Originally conceived only for military use as a pocket handbook of inspirational reading, by October 1966 its popularity encouraged copies to be made available to every Chinese citizen and fourteen months later a total of 720 million had been published. Lin Biao was appointed Vice-Chairman of the CCP and Mao's heir during the 1969 Ninth Congress, but just two years later he and his family were accused of plotting to assassinate the Chairman and speed up the anticipated succession (probably rumored by jealous colleagues) so their plane was shot down over Mongolia in September 1971 and all on board died. Afterwards Mao declared his close comrade a national traitor and an effort was made to obliterate his existence from recent memory. Everyone was encouraged to tear out Lin's one-page endorsement in copies of the LRB and for subsequent editions produced after 1971 this text no longer appears. In fact, not removing the page would have been a liability as to one's true commitment to the CCP. Thus, our copy of the LRB is a real treasure as it is complete with the Lin endorsement intact as issued. In December 2002 Sothebys NY sold a similar copy in paper wrappers (somewhat cleaner in condition) for US$15,400 and there is currently a copy available in rare book search engines offered by one of America's premier antiquarian booksellers priced at $18,500 in similar used condition as our copy.

Status: Sold	Reference#: batt049
Condition: Paper binding stained and worn (see item description for full details).	Year: May 1964
Country: China
Height: 5.375 in. (13.65 cm)
Width: 4 in. (10.16 cm)
Title: QUOTATIONS OF CHAIRMAN MAO (Chinese Text)

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