Joyce, James

8vo (192 x 128mm.), first published edition, one of approximately 746 copies bound, publisher's maroon cloth, spine and upper cover lettered in gilt, original green dust-jacket printed in black, green half morocco slipcase gilt, with green buckram chemise, minimal wear to binding, dust-jacket with minor chipping at extremities and slightly shorter than binding, hinges of spine and inner flaps expertly repaired, small tear restored in lower left corner of upper cover

H. Bradley Martin, bookplate, his sale, Sotheby's New York, 1 May 1990, lot 2964

Slocum and Cahoon A8

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The fine H. Bradley Martin copy, in the extremely rare dust-jacket. Only six copies, including the present copy, are recorded as sold at auction in the last thirty years. The present copy includes a printed slip noting publication price (3/6) and publication date (June 15). The single sheet requests that no review appears before publication date.

The publishing history of Joyce's collection of short stories is convoluted, but well-known. Grant Richards originally accepted the book for publication in his list for 1906. After skirmishes with printers over objectionable passages, the publisher abandoned the book. It was later picked up by Maunsel, who printed an edition of 1000 copies in 1910. After Joyce refused Maunsel's manager's request to make emendations to the text, the edition was destroyed. Joyce subsequently added two important stories - 'A Little Cloud' and 'The Dead' (one of the finest of all modern short stories)- to the collection. In 1914, the author returned to Richards, who published the book in June of that year.