A hand signed 1st edition/1st printing of this important essay from acclaimed and multiple award-winning Chinese contemporary artist and leading dissident/activist Ai Weiwei.








'On Censorship ' published by Thames & Hudson, London on 29 January 2026, 1st edition, small modern hardback (measures 7in x 4.5in), 89 pages.  Several b&w photos within.






Flat hand signed by Ai Weiwei at the title page.


In fine unread condition. 







A thought-provoking work by a singular voice, this short, sharp essay invites us to critically reconsider power, ideology and the boundaries of free speech.





Invisible, invasive and widely taken for granted, censorship is a globalized force as much driven by commercial interests as political agendas.  Ai Weiwei – artist, activist and one of the world’s most influential cultural figures – has first-hand experience of its power.  In this urgent piece of writing, he makes a rallying cry for free speech in an age shaped by big data, mass surveillance and intrusive new technologies of control.




Ai Weiwei examines how censorship persists both in the overt propagandizing and redactions of authoritarian regimes, as well as subtly within democratic frameworks, exploring how international corporations, cultural institutions, social media and so-called ideologies of ‘freedom’ have provided fertile ground for new, more insidious, suppressions.



  








Estimated non-UK postage costs by signed for airmail delivery - Europe £14, Canada/Japan £21, Aus/NZ £23, US £22.   Additional books can always be added to a combined order for an additional postage cost based on extra 0.25kg bands of weight, with an extra postage cost per extra 0.25kg of £1.20 for Europe / £2.00 everywhere else - please contact if any questions.
 

 
 
 
 
Multiple items - Please review my other listings to see if there are any other items which are of interest to you.  I will be pleased to provide a suitable invoice for combined postage cost for 2 or more items.  If you have won an item and intend to bid on any other items which end on different days, I would be grateful if you would drop me a message.

Postage – All of my books are triple wrapped for delivery to maximise their safety - firstly in bubble wrap protection, secondly in either a padded envelope or a cardboard box, and finally in thick parcel paper.
 
For UK mainland - all items above a fairly modest value I will send via either signed for Royal Mail and/or courier options whichever is the best, this being largely dependent on the weight of the object. 
 
I am more than happy to post overseas on the basis that all items will be posted by Airmail with a signature required on delivery.  If you are overseas, please feel free to enquire about postage charges ahead of registering a bid if you are unsure of the cost I may have outlined above, where costs may be prohibitive depending upon where you are in the world and the weight of the item, many thanks.
 
 
Feedback – I will be delighted to provide feedback for a winning bidder once they have done so first to ensure that the item has arrived safely.  In the event a winning bidder has any queries around a product following receipt, I would be pleased to deal with any queries via my business e-mail address or the Ebay message function in an effort to resolve matters ahead of any mutual feedback being provided, thanks.
 

 
Many thanks for looking at my items and good luck with any bids you make. 


 
I will be regularly listing items for sale, please save me as one of your favourite sellers for the future, thanks.
<