What Manner of Man; A Biography of Martin Luther King Jr.

Chicago: Johnson Publishing Company, Inc, 1964. First Edition, First Printing. Cloth. Fine/very good. Inscribed by Coretta Scott King to US Ambassador to Norway Margaret Tibbetts, host of the King family during their visit Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, this is the first edition of What Manner of Man: A Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. by. Octavo, [xviii], 227pp, [x]. Gray cloth, title in white on spine. The first printing, with no additional printings listed on copyright page. Solid text block, book in fine condition. In the publisher's dust jacket, $4.95 retail price on front flap, some wear to edges and small chips at corners. Limited professional restoration to verso of rear flap, reinforcing closed tear. Features a double frontispiece and over 50 pages of photographs. Bookplate of the recipient of this association copy, Ambassador Margaret Joy Tibbetts, affixed to front free endpaper. Housed in a custom black clamshell, title in gilt on black morocco spine. Inscribed by Coretta Scott King on the front free endpaper: "To Ambassador Tibbetts, With deep appreciation and warm personal regards - Coretta Scott King." A wonderful association copy. The recipient of this copy, Margaret Joy Tibbetts, was appointed Ambassador to Norway by Lyndon B. Johnson in July, 1964. On December 8th, 1964, Tibbetts greeted Dr. King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, upon their arrival in Oslo for King's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Tibbets also hosted a reception to honor the couple, and was present for his acceptance speech on December 10th.

What Manner of Man by renowned Black historian Lerone Bennett, Jr. was one of the first major biographies of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was published in 1964, just weeks before Dr. King received the Nobel Peace Prize.