The Best of Simple.

First paperback edition of the fourth book in Hughes' "Simple" series. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated by Bernhard Nast. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the verso of the front free endpaper in the year of publication, "For Zell ~ Sincerely, Lang Harlem, U.S.A., Sept. 19, 1961." The recipient, Cleveland artist Zell Ingram, was a close friend of Hughes. He accompanied Hughes on a voyaged to the Caribbean in 1931 and stayed with him in Haiti for several months. Although they rumored to have been lovers, Hughes disguised Ingram as a heterosexual platonic friend in his first collection of memoirs, I Wonder as I Wander. In near fine condition. A fine association.