The African Saga. Translated from L’Anthologie Negre by Margery Bianco with an introduction by Arthur B. Spingarn.

Margery Williams BIANCO (1881-1944, translator). - Blaise CENDARS.

The African Saga. Translated from L’Anthologie Negre by Margery Bianco with an introduction by Arthur B. Spingarn. New York: Payson & Clarke Ltd., 1927. Octavo (9 3/8 x 6 1/8 in; 238 x 155mm), pp. 1-]5-378. Occasional decorations, extra-illustrated with a related loosely inserted letter from novelist, essayist and critic William McFee to Herbert de Lima. Original black cloth-backed decorated paper-covered boards, spine blocked in yellow, map of Africa on endpapers, dust-jacket (small chips to extremities of dust-jacket [see images], light toning to dust-jacket, last few words of ‘blub’ on front flap of dust-jacket obscured with black ink). Provenance: Herbert & ‘Hazle’ de Lima (presentation inscription “For Herbert & Hazle de Lima / Nov ’27 / from Margery”).

A fine copy of the first edition of Margery Bianco’s translation, inscribed by her and with a letter from a critic asking for information about her. In ‘this anthology we have not only a record of the wit and wisdom of Africa but the soul of a people, which may be judged by the criteria of pure letters. In this translation … English readers have their first opportunity to appraise Africa’s contribution to the literature of the world.’ (A.B. Spingarn’s Introduction).