1951 First Edition 5 Vols Works of Chinese Leader Mao Zedong

A very good to near mint set of 5 First Edition hardback volumes, with their cardboard sleeves, of The ‘Selected Works of Mao Tse-Tung’, better known today by his Mandarin language name Mao Zedong (毛泽东选集 or 毛澤東選集)
It is the five volume collection of the written works of Mao Zedong ranging from the years 1926–1957. The collection was first published by the People's Publishing House in Beijing in 1951 and was later translated into English by the state-owned Foreign Languages Press. Initially in 4 volumes, a fifth volume, which included the works of Chairman Mao from 1949 to 1957, was released during the leadership of Hua Guofeng, but subsequently withdrawn from circulation for its perceived ideological errors.
The first volume of the Selected Works includes a total of 17 articles ranging from 1925 until the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War. Published in 1951, it was first printed by Xinhua Printing Factory, in the Peking First Branch Factory. The book was sold at a price of 15,000 yuan and 200,000 copies were printed.
The second volume of the Selected Works includes a total of 40 articles by Mao Zedong in the early days of the Second Sino-Japanese War. It was formally published and distributed by the People's Publishing House in 1952.
The third volume of the Selected Works includes 31 articles by Mao Zedong in the late period of the Second Sino-Japanese War and was released in 1953.
Publication of the fourth volume was especially promoted, as there were major efforts from 1959-1960 to emphasize the importance of Mao's writings. The fourth volume of the Selected Works includes a total of 70 articles by Mao Zedong after the Second Sino-Japanese War and before the founding of the People's Republic of China. Released in 1960.
A fifth book was planned as early as 1960, to include selected writings from the PRC period, but Mao resisted its production as he felt his essays and speeches on Socialist Construction (1949–1957) were still evolving compared to the views contained in the earlier volumes. It took ten years to publish in 1977, due to the Cultural Revolution and Mao Zedong's opposition. However, Mao’s successor Hua Guofeng insisted on the publication of the fifth volume of the Selected Works. It includes 70 articles by Mao Zedong after the founding of the People's Republic of China. It was removed from sale afterwards and is rarer than the other volumes.
Size: 16.5 x 24.5 x 18 cm (6 ½ x 9 5/8 x 7 inches)
Weight: 4456 g