![MAO ZEDONG (1893-1976). Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong. Text in Chinese. [?Beijing:] Central Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, 1964.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2006/CKS/2006_CKS_07275_0145_000(010414).jpg?w=1)
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MAO ZEDONG (1893-1976). Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong. Text in Chinese. [?Beijing:] Central Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, 1964.
16° (139 x 103 mm). Half-title printed in red, title in red and green, half-tone portrait frontispiece of Mao, Lin Biao's printed calligraphic endorsement. (Occasional spotting.) Original wrappers printed in red and black (light soiling, a few shallow creases). Provenance: small ink inscription on front wrapper.
FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING OF CHAIRMAN MAO'S 'LITTLE RED BOOK', complete with the uncorrected state of Lin Biao's rare printed calligraphic endorsement. Following Lin's alleged plot to assassinate Mao in September 1971 citizens were encouraged to tear out or deface this page as a sign of loyalty -- not doing so was a potential liability and complete copies are uncommon. Copies in wrappers were produced first and for the use of individual officers, while copies bound in red vinyl followed a few days later and were intended to be shared by brigades of up to eight men. For ease of distribution Mao's book was produced simultaneously at various unspecified locations in China from stereotyped plates. It was revised and reprinted a number of times within the next few years and by 1967 more than 700 million copies had been printed -- almost certainly a record for a printed book in such a short period of time. After Mao's death in 1976, and with it the end of the Cultural Revolution, countless millions of copies were collected and pulped in an attempt to control the cult of personality surrounding Mao.
16° (139 x 103 mm). Half-title printed in red, title in red and green, half-tone portrait frontispiece of Mao, Lin Biao's printed calligraphic endorsement. (Occasional spotting.) Original wrappers printed in red and black (light soiling, a few shallow creases). Provenance: small ink inscription on front wrapper.
FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING OF CHAIRMAN MAO'S 'LITTLE RED BOOK', complete with the uncorrected state of Lin Biao's rare printed calligraphic endorsement. Following Lin's alleged plot to assassinate Mao in September 1971 citizens were encouraged to tear out or deface this page as a sign of loyalty -- not doing so was a potential liability and complete copies are uncommon. Copies in wrappers were produced first and for the use of individual officers, while copies bound in red vinyl followed a few days later and were intended to be shared by brigades of up to eight men. For ease of distribution Mao's book was produced simultaneously at various unspecified locations in China from stereotyped plates. It was revised and reprinted a number of times within the next few years and by 1967 more than 700 million copies had been printed -- almost certainly a record for a printed book in such a short period of time. After Mao's death in 1976, and with it the end of the Cultural Revolution, countless millions of copies were collected and pulped in an attempt to control the cult of personality surrounding Mao.
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