Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller - Old and Rare Books

Suffer Little Children... [INSCRIBED & SIGNED]

Palfi, Marion

New York: Oceana Publications, 1952. First edition. Softcover. Quarto. 95, [1]pp. Black and white photo-illustrated wrappers. Signed, inscribed and dated on the title title page in black ink by the author. This work is photographer Marion Palfi's (1907-1978) powerful photographic expose of the suffering and neglect of children in poverty in United States. Images here also address the issues of race relations, hate groups in American, general socio-economics, crime, education, and youth incarceration during the period. In 1946 Palfi was awarded a grant from the Rosenwald Fellowship to begin a project documenting the hardships faced by children and youth in America at the time. This photographic study resulted first in the exhibition "Children in America", which opened in January 1949 at the New York Public Library, and then this publication in 1952. The work focuses on children of all races in America, and is considered among the first works of its kind by a white photographer to examine the link between racism and poverty. The book is profusely photo-illustrated throughout with b/w photographic-reproductions with accompanying text captions.

Palfi was noted throughout her career for use of photography as an instrument of social change and a focus on equity, opportunity, and justice. She was known for her socio-political activism and her work was featured in the Edward Steichen's landmark photographic exhibition "Family of Man", in 1955. For her work she received a Guggenheim Fellowship (1967) and a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship (1974).

Minor to light rubbing to extremities, including some rubbing and light creasing along the hinges. A tiny chip to the bottom right corner. Back cover with some small chips along the right side, and a 1/2 x 1" abrasion, resulting in loss of image. Interior clean, with book block tight. Binding in very good-, interior in near fine condition overall. Quite scarce. Protected in modern mylar. vg- to near fine. Item #53688

* In the December 10th, 1952 edition of her nationally syndicated newspaper column "My Day", First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt wrote about her experiences reading Suffer Little Children. She writes: "I have just finished reading and looking at 'Suffer Little Children' by Marion Palfi and published by the Oceana Publications of New York City. The photographs in the book tell the story of children. This is a book that nearly all of us in the United States should look at with great care. There is some text in it, but the pictures are what will really remain with you. They are completely unforgettable. The reason none of us can fail to look at this book with care lies in the fact that these children are our future citizens, and we must know how they are growing up and what are their opportunities."

Price: $4,500.00