353. Steinbeck (John) Their Blood is Strong, first edition, original photographic wrappers by Dorthea Lange, a little rubbed at extremities, otherwise near-fine, preserved in folding chemise and custom morocco-backed slip-case, 8vo, California, [1938].
A very scarce Steinbeck work, particularly in such good condition, with possibly as few as 100 copies printed.
est. £600 – £800
Originally published as a series of articles titled The Harvest Gypsies that appeared in the San Francisco News, this book is the result of Steinbeck's research into the plight of California's farm workers, many of whom migrated from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma, and serves as the precursor to his greatest book The Grapes of Wrath (see lot 355). Steinbeck allowed the Lubin Society to publish the articles in booklet form, with the addition of Starvation Under the Orange Trees that served as an epilogue, so that the proceeds could be used to help the farm workers.