Joyce, James | With Joyce's calling card

From the Library of Clayre and Jay Michael Haft

Joyce, James

Ulysses. Paris: Shakespeare & Company, 1922

4to (240 x 184 mm). Small area of discoloration to half-title; a few leaves carelessly opened. Publisher's blue wrappers with upper cover lettered in white bound in; the fragile wrappers uncommonly well-preserved. Full black goatskin by Lester Capon with simple rules to spine and gilt spine title, slipcase. 

First edition of the most important and influential novel of the twentieth century; copy 873 of 750 numbered copies (of a whole edition of 1000).

Joyce's signed calling card dated "Paris 11 June, 1936" tipped onto a tab and bound in at front. 

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 1/150 series on 4 March. It is now thought that this reflects the order in which Ulysses was actually printed.

REFERENCE:

Slocum & Cahoon A17