Pauli Murray. DARK TESTAMENT AND OTHER POEMS. Norwalk, CT: Silvermine Publishers Incorporated, 1970. First edition. Hardcover issue (simultaneously published in paperback). Cream cloth-covered boards with black lettering, in original red, white, and blue jacket. Thin 8vo; [13], 106pp. with index. Name of previous owner, Dr. Patsy Perry, former English professor at North Carolina Central University in Durham, on front and rear paste-downs.

5 5/16 x 8 1/2 in.

Pauli Murray (1910-1985) was an activist, author, lawyer, and Episcopal priest who grew up in Durham, NC. Murray had an important influence on the civil rights movement, especially through their essays, poems, and legal writing. Dark Testament and Other Poems is Murray's only published collection of poetry. Its title poem was written in 1943 while they were a law student at Howard University. The book is surprisingly uncommon; this is its second known appearance at auction.

Boards with minor edge dent, spine very slightly cocked and with thumbing at ends; one page with very light grime, occasional minor mark, otherwise a near pristine interior; jacket lightly scuffed with several dents and scratches, some areas of light toning, edgewear, several small tears and chips with most at corners and head, and spine lightly sunned. Near fine in an about very good, unclipped dust jacket.