Joyce, James | A first edition of Joyce's Ulysses

The Passion of American Collectors: Property of Barbara and Ira Lipman

Joyce, James

Ulysses. Paris: Shakespeare & Company, 1922

4to (240 x 184 mm, uncut & mostly unopened). Title leaf and colophon clumsily opened, light marginal browning. Publisher's blue wrappers, upper cover lettered in white; slight fading, some darkening at edges, spine skillfully rebacked. Half blue morocco slipcase, spine lettered in gilt, chemise; some wear and rubbing.

Copy 671 of 750 numbered copies (of a whole edition of 1000) of the first edition of the most important and influential novel of the twentieth century.

The official date of publication for Ulysses was Joyce's birthday, 2 February 1922, but difficulties with the cover meant that in fact only two copies, both from the 1/750 issue, were actually ready that day. No further copies of any issue of Ulysses appeared from the printer until 9 February (when a further batch of the 1/750 arrived), followed by the first of the 1/100 on 13 February, and the 1/50 series on 4 March. It is now thought that this reflects the order in which Ulysses was actually printed.

REFERENCE

Slocum & Cahoon A17