- 612
Joyce, James
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
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Description
- Joyce, James
- Dubliners. Grant Richards Ltd, 1914
- paper
8vo, first edition, presentation copy inscribed by the author ("To I Jacob Schwarz I James Joyce I Torquay I 4.8.929") on half-title, original dark red cloth, lettered in gilt on upper cover and spine, inscription treated at some point leading to fading of place and date, minor marks to binding, head and foot of spine very slightly bumped, cloth slightly cockled on upper cover
One of only three inscribed copies of Joyce's short story collection offered for sale at auction in the last forty years.
Despite Joyce's slight mis-spelling, the recipient is almost certainly the proprietor of the Ulysses Bookshop in London, Jacob Schwartz. There are several references to Schwartz in Joyce's letters where Joyce omits the letter 't'. It was Schwartz who famously asked Joyce if he remembered the writing and distribution of his 1891 or 1892 pamphlet (and first book) Et Tu, Healy, of which no copy survives. "Remember it? Why shouldn't I remember it? Didn't I pay for the printing of it, and didn't I send a copy to the Pope?" (quoted by Ellmann, p.33). Schwartz privately published Joyce's James Clarence Mangan under the Ulysses Bookshop imprint in 1930 (Slocum & Cahoon 39). He was also the purchaser of the "complete and final" proofs of Ulysses, heavily annotated by the author, sold at Parke-Bernet Galleries on 8 October 1951.
The inscription dates from Joyce and Nora's two-month holiday at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay, Devon between 2 July and 14 August 1929. They were accompanied by Stuart and Moune Gilbert (during the stay Joyce helped Gilbert complete his book, James Joyce's Ulysses) and were "joined there by friends from time to time", many of whom cheered Joyce by the praise which they lavished upon him (Ellmann, p.629). "In his usual deliberate, though seemingly desultory way, Joyce read a series of strange newspapers and magazines... During the afternoons he lay on the beach, as he loved to do, fingering the pebbles for texture and weight. Occasionally he had a rush of energy, and during one of these vaulted over a wall but fell, because his sight was poor, on the other side, hurting his arm. In the evenings he went with Gilbert to local pubs, sipping a little cider (which he did not like), but mainly listening to several conversations at once and, to Gilbert's wonder, following them all..." (op.cit., p.629)
Only two other inscribed copies of Dubliners have been sold at auction since the mid- 1970s: a copy inscribed to Roberto Prezioso (sold in these rooms, 12 December 2012, lot 129, for £105,000) and a copy inscribed to Crosby Gaige (preserved in a dust-jacket), from the library of Roger Rechler (Christie's New York, 11 October 2002, lot 174, for $230,000).
This copy, previously sold in these rooms, 7 December 2006, was also once owned by Richard Morgan Kain (1908-1990), formerly Professor and Chairman of the Humanities Division at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. Kain was an internationally recognised authority on the work of James Joyce. His first book, Fabulous Voyager (1947), was one of the earliest significant critical works on the author; before that, in 1944, he offered one of the first college courses on Joyce in the world. His research on Joyce expanded to include all the writers of the Irish Literary Renaissance, including Yeats, A.E., Synge, Gogarty, Lady Gregory and others. Professor Kain's working library and archive is held by the Library of the University of Louisville.
One of only three inscribed copies of Joyce's short story collection offered for sale at auction in the last forty years.
Despite Joyce's slight mis-spelling, the recipient is almost certainly the proprietor of the Ulysses Bookshop in London, Jacob Schwartz. There are several references to Schwartz in Joyce's letters where Joyce omits the letter 't'. It was Schwartz who famously asked Joyce if he remembered the writing and distribution of his 1891 or 1892 pamphlet (and first book) Et Tu, Healy, of which no copy survives. "Remember it? Why shouldn't I remember it? Didn't I pay for the printing of it, and didn't I send a copy to the Pope?" (quoted by Ellmann, p.33). Schwartz privately published Joyce's James Clarence Mangan under the Ulysses Bookshop imprint in 1930 (Slocum & Cahoon 39). He was also the purchaser of the "complete and final" proofs of Ulysses, heavily annotated by the author, sold at Parke-Bernet Galleries on 8 October 1951.
The inscription dates from Joyce and Nora's two-month holiday at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay, Devon between 2 July and 14 August 1929. They were accompanied by Stuart and Moune Gilbert (during the stay Joyce helped Gilbert complete his book, James Joyce's Ulysses) and were "joined there by friends from time to time", many of whom cheered Joyce by the praise which they lavished upon him (Ellmann, p.629). "In his usual deliberate, though seemingly desultory way, Joyce read a series of strange newspapers and magazines... During the afternoons he lay on the beach, as he loved to do, fingering the pebbles for texture and weight. Occasionally he had a rush of energy, and during one of these vaulted over a wall but fell, because his sight was poor, on the other side, hurting his arm. In the evenings he went with Gilbert to local pubs, sipping a little cider (which he did not like), but mainly listening to several conversations at once and, to Gilbert's wonder, following them all..." (op.cit., p.629)
Only two other inscribed copies of Dubliners have been sold at auction since the mid- 1970s: a copy inscribed to Roberto Prezioso (sold in these rooms, 12 December 2012, lot 129, for £105,000) and a copy inscribed to Crosby Gaige (preserved in a dust-jacket), from the library of Roger Rechler (Christie's New York, 11 October 2002, lot 174, for $230,000).
This copy, previously sold in these rooms, 7 December 2006, was also once owned by Richard Morgan Kain (1908-1990), formerly Professor and Chairman of the Humanities Division at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. Kain was an internationally recognised authority on the work of James Joyce. His first book, Fabulous Voyager (1947), was one of the earliest significant critical works on the author; before that, in 1944, he offered one of the first college courses on Joyce in the world. His research on Joyce expanded to include all the writers of the Irish Literary Renaissance, including Yeats, A.E., Synge, Gogarty, Lady Gregory and others. Professor Kain's working library and archive is held by the Library of the University of Louisville.
Provenance
Jacob Schwartz, proprieter of the Ulysses Bookshop, London; Professor Richard Morgan Kain (1908 - 1990); Sotheby's, 7 December 2006, lot 179
Literature
Slocum and Cahoon A8
Condition
Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when 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."
"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."