4to
1922 · Paris
by JOYCE, James (1882-1941)
Paris: Shakespeare & Co, 1922. 4to. Number 701 of 750 copies printed on handmade paper (from an edition of 1,000). Publisher's original blue wrappers, front wrapper lettered in white. Housed within a custom morocco-backed cloth box. Wear to wrapper edges and spine, unrestored.
Provenance: Signature on the front endpaper of Burton Rascoe (1892-1957), American journalist, editor, and literary critic
The rare first edition of James Joyce's Ulysses, one of the most important works in modernist literature.
The publication history of Ulysses is as storied and intriguing as the novel itself. This first edition was published on February 2, 1922, by Sylvia Beach, an American expatriate and the owner of the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris. Due to its controversial content, which led to obscenity trials and bans in various countries, Joyce faced significant difficulties in finding a publisher. Beach took the courageous step to publish the book herself, ensuring its availability to the public. Beach commissioned printer Maurice Darantiere in Dijon to print 1,000 numbered copies consisting of 100 signed copies on Dutch handmade paper, 150 numbered copies on vergé d'Arches paper, and 750 copies on handmade paper, plus an extra 20 unnumbered copies on mixed paper for libraries and press. Tasked with typesetting Joyce's ever-changing text, Darantiere also faced challenges related to the cover. Joyce insisted that the cover must resemble the colours of the Greek flag, blue and white, an allusion to the book's connection to Homer's Odyssey and the Greek literary tradition. Despite Darantiere's efforts with various blue papers, none met Joyces exacting standards. With less than a month until publication, Joyce sent the small Greek flag from Shakespeare and Company to artist Myron C. Nutting, who identified the correct pigment. Darantiere then lithographed the "Greek-flag blue" onto white paper, creating the distinctive blue cover of this first edition. Ulysses is a cornerstone of literary modernism. Joyce's experimental use of language and his focus on the inner thoughts of characters influenced countless writers and redefined the possibilities of the novel. The work delves into themes of identity, consciousness, and the mundane aspects of daily life, elevating them to profound significance. The novel's stream of consciousness technique, in particular, was groundbreaking, offering readers direct access to the inner workings of characters' minds. This approach has been emulated and celebrated in modern literature, making Ulysses a touchstone for both writers and scholars. The novel continues to captivate readers, its complex layers and intricate prose inviting ongoing interpretation and admiration as a timeless exploration of human consciousness and the complexities of existence.
The Modern Movement 42; Slocum & Cahoon A17. (Inventory #: 41814)
Provenance: Signature on the front endpaper of Burton Rascoe (1892-1957), American journalist, editor, and literary critic
The rare first edition of James Joyce's Ulysses, one of the most important works in modernist literature.
The publication history of Ulysses is as storied and intriguing as the novel itself. This first edition was published on February 2, 1922, by Sylvia Beach, an American expatriate and the owner of the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris. Due to its controversial content, which led to obscenity trials and bans in various countries, Joyce faced significant difficulties in finding a publisher. Beach took the courageous step to publish the book herself, ensuring its availability to the public. Beach commissioned printer Maurice Darantiere in Dijon to print 1,000 numbered copies consisting of 100 signed copies on Dutch handmade paper, 150 numbered copies on vergé d'Arches paper, and 750 copies on handmade paper, plus an extra 20 unnumbered copies on mixed paper for libraries and press. Tasked with typesetting Joyce's ever-changing text, Darantiere also faced challenges related to the cover. Joyce insisted that the cover must resemble the colours of the Greek flag, blue and white, an allusion to the book's connection to Homer's Odyssey and the Greek literary tradition. Despite Darantiere's efforts with various blue papers, none met Joyces exacting standards. With less than a month until publication, Joyce sent the small Greek flag from Shakespeare and Company to artist Myron C. Nutting, who identified the correct pigment. Darantiere then lithographed the "Greek-flag blue" onto white paper, creating the distinctive blue cover of this first edition. Ulysses is a cornerstone of literary modernism. Joyce's experimental use of language and his focus on the inner thoughts of characters influenced countless writers and redefined the possibilities of the novel. The work delves into themes of identity, consciousness, and the mundane aspects of daily life, elevating them to profound significance. The novel's stream of consciousness technique, in particular, was groundbreaking, offering readers direct access to the inner workings of characters' minds. This approach has been emulated and celebrated in modern literature, making Ulysses a touchstone for both writers and scholars. The novel continues to captivate readers, its complex layers and intricate prose inviting ongoing interpretation and admiration as a timeless exploration of human consciousness and the complexities of existence.
The Modern Movement 42; Slocum & Cahoon A17. (Inventory #: 41814)
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