Mao Zedong

12mo (5 5/8 x 3 7/8 in.; 142 x 98 mm). Half-title printed in red, title printed in red and green, sepia-printed portrait frontispiece, Lin Biao's calligraphic endorsement leaf printed in dark brown "Everyone should study the Chairman's writings, Follow his Teachings, Act According to his Instructions and be Chairman Mao's Good Soldier," errata slip in pocket at end; lightly browned, some light marginal dampstains, endpapers spotted, small ink signature ("bao zhong li") on title. Original stiff wrappers and red vinyl plastic covers. With: another copy, (5 1/2 x 4 in.; 140 x 102 mm) calligraphic endorsement leaf printed in black, in original cream printed wrappers with lettering in black on red background; internally clean, wrappers with marginal soiling, tiny stain on upper cover lower margin, two small portions of backstrip gone.

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In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

First editions, first issues, with Lin Biao's calligraphic endorsement, and with the textual error on pages 82-83 uncorrected in the vinyl copy and corrected in the paper copy. The printed wrappers of the second copy is the first issue binding. The red vinyl binding took a few extra weeks to design but it was intended for PLA brigades to pass around during evening discussion periods. While the red vinyl is the second issue of the binding, it eventually became the iconic symbol of the Cultural Revolution.

The original sheets were printed with the text error on pages 82-83 unnoticed. As the sheets were piled together, the error was noticed and corrected, so that the corrected sheets, at the top of the pile, were the first to be bound in the printed wrappers, the first issue binding. When it became apparent that the wrappers were not sufficiently strong, a stiff unprinted wrapper was devised which was inserted into a red vinyl cover, and this was the second issue binding. Almost all known copies, in either binding, have the corrected text, but the present vinyl copy is uncorrected with the rare errata slip inserted into a pocket in the bottom cover of the vinyl.