Canto General

Mexico: Talleres Graficos De La Nacion. Good. 1950. Limited Edition. Hardcover. Limited edition of 600 copies, this is number 489. Double signed by Neruda; once with just his last name in green pen on the limitation page and then again on the verso of the half-title page in red pen with a large doodle of a kite and an inscription to Chilean author Juan Agustin Palazuelos, dated 1963. Published in Mexico City in March of 1950, this copy was printed on "Malinche" paper (colophon). Folio, measuring approximately 14 x 10 inches; 568 pages, plus subscriber list (subscribers include Frida Kahlo and Pablo Picasso). Publisher's red cloth boards with gilt fish imprint on cover and gilt lettering on spine. Gilt is quite faded and the cloth is somewhat soiled and faded as well. Rubbing to edges, exposing boards at the corners. Cloth on spine is wrinkled. Binding is in a delicate condition with cracking gutters and a downward slant to the text block. Interior is clean except for a stain to the top edge of about the first 200 pages that does not impact content. Text block has a very faded purple top stain and uneven trim on the fore-edge. Features stunningly colorful endpapers decorated with an illustration by Diego Rivera in the front and another by David A. Siqueiros in the rear. Red cloth ribbon bookmark is faded. Overall, good condition. Content is entirely in Spanish. This is a highly collectable copy of an epic book of poetry by Nobel Prize winning Chilean poet and diplomat Pablo Neruda. Canto General, which translates to General Song, consists of hundreds of poems separated into 15 sections and is widely considered to be one of Neruda's essential works. Together, the poems present a history of Latin America with a focus on depicting struggles against oppression. ; Folio - over 12" - 15" tall; 568 pp; Signed by Author .