THE FIRST COLLECTION OF NERUDA’S POETIC WORKS, EACH OF THE TEN VOLUMES SIGNED BY NERUDA, IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS
NERUDA, Pablo. Obra Poética. Santiago: Cruz del Sur, 1947-48. Ten volumes. 12mo (each volume measures 4 by 5 inches), original printed paper wrappers. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box.
Limited edition of the first collection of Neruda’s poetry (the complete works from the first half of his career in ten volumes), each volume number 1464 of 1500 copies and each signed on the half title by Neruda in green ink.
This collection begins with Neruda's early works La Canción de la Fiesta and Crepusculario, includes his world-renowned Veinte Poemas de Amor y una Canción Desesperada, the first two parts of Residencia en la Tierra, España en el Corazón and Himno y Regreso, among other works. Cruz del Sur publishing was founded by a group of Spanish Republicans who had arrived in Chile some years earlier; subscribers to this edition (listed at the rear of Volume X) include Pablo Picasso, Rafael Alberti and other well-known Spaniards, as well as much of the Chilean establishment. Most of the 1500 sets were unsigned, but it seems that Neruda signed several sets (most likely including the present set) in 1948 when the government turned to the right and banned the Communist Party, forcing Neruda and many others into hiding. It is possible that he signed these books to mobilize resources needed by those living underground and escaping from the country. Neruda himself escaped from Chile in 1948, on horseback over a southern Andean pass leading to Argentina. Text in Spanish.
Light edge-wear to several of the original paper wrappers, but overall a very nice set in extremely good condition. Very scarce, especially in this condition and signed in each volume.