Signed First Edition of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet

One of the highlights in our November 10 sale of 19th & 20th Century Literature is a scarce first edition of The Prophet, signed by its author, Kahlil Gibran, in the year of publication.

The Prophet is a collection of twenty-six prose poems delivered by the fictional prophet Almustafa. Since its 1923 publication, the book has sold over one hundred million copies, been translated into over forty languages, and has never been out of print. Though Gibran’s first language was Arabic, he began writing in English after moving to New York City in 1911. The Prophet was his third attempt at a novel. Gibran created all of the illustrations in The Prophet, including the Christ-like frontispiece.

This is the first time a signed first edition of The Prophet has appeared at auction. Interestingly, Gibran, the third best-selling poet of all time, signed the current book upside-down on the back page. The reason for this remains a mystery.

In addition to illustrating his own books, Gibran also had a career as accomplished artist. His atmospheric paintings reflect the mysticism and spirituality present in his writing. Some of his works have crossed the block at Swann in the past, but this is the first time we have offered the work that made him famous. According to John D. Larson, Swann Galleries’ 19th & 20th Century Literature Specialist, “Finding a first edition signed, in the year of publication, no less, counts as a genuine event, one not likely to reoccur anytime soon.”