Deportation: Its Meaning and Menace, last message to the people of America 1919.

Immigration, Emma Goldman & Berkman

First Edition

Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman. "Deportation: Its Meaning and Menace, last message to the people of America." New York, 1919. Octavo. Original wrappers. First edition. Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman’s famous “goodbye message” to America following their deportation in this classic work, which Alexander Berkman wrote the final phrases of using a hidden pencil and piece of paper at the Ellis Island Deportation Station.

Goldman and Berkman excoriate American “War Millionaires” for crushing the dreams of common laborers: “The Red Ark is gone. In the darkness of early morning it slipped away, leaving behind many wives and children destitute of support. They were denied even the knowledge of the sailing of the ship, denied the right of farewell to the husbands and fathers they may never see again.” The last few pages consist of quotations from famous thinkers and authors about immigration, deportation, human rights, and the American experiment. Minor creasing and toning and damp stains to rear wrapper, otherwise in very good condition. This piece is so important in its original form that subsequent editions used digital reconstruction to mimic the original format’s character, electing to keep the blemishes and imperfections to reflect the urgency of the writing.

Item #16284

Price: $1,200.00