Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas. By Maya Angelou. First Edition, Second Printing. Random House. New York, 1976.

Maya Angelou was an undeniable force. She was a poet, memoirist, and activist whose work found admiration across the globe. She followed the tradition of the Harlem Renaissance authors, many of whom she met at various points throughout her life. She worked alongside the most notable Civil Rights activists, including Martin Luther King Jr. She was close friends with James Baldwin and Oprah Winfrey. She even mentored Tupac Shakur briefly after meeting him on the set of the film Poetic Justice. A pillar of the Black community, Angelou spoke deliberately and proudly of her culture and era. In Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas, Angelou presents the third book in her autobiographical series. Of those texts, Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas is one of the most popular. It covers Angelou’s early twenties, when she lived in San Francisco, New York, and when she toured as a performer in Porgy and Bess.

This first edition, second printing is in near-fine condition. In the original quarter cloth, about-fine with only rubbing to bottom edge of front board and bumping to corners. Text block fine. In the original dust jacket, about-fine with only bumping to edges and minor close tear to head of spine. Second printing indicated by the lack of “First Edition” statement underneath the number line.

An about-fine second printing of Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas.