BOUND FOR GLORY

New York: E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc., 1943. First Edition. Hardcover. One page creased, a couple of others browned from previously laid-in newspaper clipping. Gilt on front rubbed and faded. About Very Good. Autobiography and first book by one of our greatest songwriters, author of this country's unofficial national anthem, "This Land Is Your Land." This title served as the basis for the Hal Ashby film starring David Carradine. This copy is wonderfully INSCRIBED and SIGNED by the legendary author filling the entire front endpaper: "N.Y.C./To Mayda Hall/from Betty Little/You'll think a lot of/things while you're reading this/book because its [sic] just like all/other books -- you'll partly think/that the people in here never do/get themselves organized -- and/seem to all get lost. Well there/are lots of folks that are more or/less lost and there's people that/have found the way to win out--/the union way. So if the author/here failed to make that 'union'/plain, there are lots of friends/still working for that union --/and maybe that is the spirit/in which this book is sent to/you./Thank you/Woody Guthrie/5-10-'43." A superb inscription reflecting Guthrie's deep belief in workers' rights. He performed at countless strikes and migrant labor protests in the 1930s and 40s. (Inventory #: 022004)