PRESENTATION/ASSOCIATION FIRST EDITION OF STRENGTH TO LOVE, WARMLY INSCRIBED BY DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. TO RENOWNED AFRICAN AMERICAN SINGER MCHENRY BOATWRIGHT

KING Jr., Martin Luther. Strength to Love. New York, Evanston, and London: Harper & Row, (1963). Octavo, original half black cloth, original dust jacket. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $19,000.

First edition of an especially memorable presentation/association copy, inscribed by Dr. King to a famous operatic singer and former classmate of Coretta Scott King's: "To McHenry Boatwright, whose beautiful voice has satisfied the musical thirst of thousands. Martin Luther King Jr.," in original dust jacket, housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.

Strength to Love was Dr. King's first volume of sermons, published the same year in which he penned his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," joined the historic March on Washington and delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech. The following year he won the Nobel Peace Prize. King notes in the preface: "In these turbulent days of uncertainty the evils of war and of economic and racial injustice threaten the very survival of the human race. Indeed, we live in a day of grave crisis. The sermons in this volume have the present crisis as their background; and they have been selected for this volume because, in one way or another, they deal with the personal and collective problems that the crisis presents." Copyright page with "First Edition" and code "D-N" indicating printing in April 1963. The recipient of this rare presentation/association copy is McHenry Boatwright. A renowned African-American bass-baritone, he was famed for his opera and classical performances, such as Porgy and Bess, and for his moving renditions of religious music and spirituals. Boatwright was a perennial favorite of accomplished music personalities such as Leonard Bernstein. He also sang for several U.S. presidents at the White House. Throughout his life, Boatwright was frequently recognized for his contributions both to music and to the advancement of African-Americans. Boatwright was, as well, one of Coretta Scott King's classmates at the New England Conservatory in Boston during the 1950s. Their acquaintance likely led to Boatwright and Martin Luther King Jr.'s later introduction. King and Boatwright attended many of the same events and award ceremonies during the 1960s.

Interior very fresh with lightest edge-wear, faint toning to near-fine book; dust jacket bright and fine. A most desirable presentation copy with a wonderful association.