first edition
[1933] · New York
by RICE, Elmer
New York: Coward-McCann, [1933]. First Edition. First Printing. Octavo (19.5cm); orange cloth with titles stamped in black on spine and front panel; dustjacket; x,253pp.; photographic frontispiece. Light edge wear to jacket extremities, including tiny close tear at top edge of upper panel, spine just a hint faded, tiny dampspot to upper panel, top textblock edge foxed, else Very Good to Near Fine. Perhaps the most staunchly proletarian and anti-capitalist of Rice's many plays. Though it was produced at the height of Rice's career, We, The People received lukewarm reviews, its agit-prop style holding little appeal for mainstream playgoers and the price of admission being too dear for the unemployed workers who would have been its natural audience. The play opened at the Empire Theatre on Broadway in January, 1933 and closed after only 49 performances. (Inventory #: 33801)