GIBRAN, Kahil. The Prophet.

(New York, NY): Alfred A. Knopf, 1926.  The de luxe Holiday Edition.  Small quarto.  84 pages.  A nice edition these 28 prose poetry fables that has been translated into more than 100 languages.  Dealing with the universal themes of all aspects of life love, marriage, children, etc, its inspirational messages draw on the lives of many spiritual leaders and the religions and philosophies of many cultures, uniquely combining them with powerful images and memorable phrases.  Although it has never been out of print since its first publication in 1923, its popularity grew markedly during the 1960s with the American counterculture and then with the flowering of the New Age movements. Elvis Presley referred to Gibran’s The Prophet for the rest of his life after receiving his first copy as a gift from his girlfriend June Juanico in July 1956. His annotated copy still exists in an Elvis Presley museum in Düsseldorf.  This ‘gift’ edition has been handset in Garamond with the illustrations printed in collotype.  This is a good copy in parchment backed gold foil boards, some pulling at hinges, with general wear and rubbing to the boards.  Housed in publisher’s card slipcase with paper title-label.   Slipcase showing some wear and old discolouration / staining.  Still, a presentable copy of this important and influential work.