[Rarebooks] FS: 4 First and Early Editions of James Joyce's ULYSSES

[Charles Agvent]

1.  JOYCE, James. ULYSSES. Paris: Shakespeare and Company 1922.  First
Edition.  The true First Printing of this modern classic. Copy #482 of
750  numbered  copies printed on handmade paper of a total edition  of
only  1000. Bound without the original blue paper covers in half brown
morocco  with  matching  corners,  spine   lettered  in  gilt,  with a
matching  half  morocco  slipcase.  A   very  nice  copy  priced  very
attractively  because  the  half title and title pages are  in  expert
facsimile.  There  is also a facsimile corner repair to one page.  The
initial  and  rear blanks as well as the colophon leaf at the end  are
lacking;  the  limitation leaf at the beginning is original. In  order
to  bring  the  book into an English-speaking country  before  1934, a
number  of  people  evidently tore off the wraps and  title  pages  to
smuggle  it  in through customs. If you can live with this,  you  will
have  on  your shelf perhaps the most notable work of fiction  written
in  the  twentieth century at a price you are not likely to  encounter
elsewhere.  Despite  the  defects, Very Good in a  handsome  slipcase.
                                                               $9500.00

2.  JOYCE, James. ULYSSES. New York: Limited Editions Club 1935.  Full
brown  buckram  with  a gold embossed design on the  front  cover  and
repeated  on  the spine. Large square octavo, 9" x 11-1/2",  with  420
pages.  With  an introduction by Stuart Gilbert and  illustrations  by
Henri  Matisse  including  twenty drawings and six  ORIGINAL  ETCHINGS
printed  by  hand, being the earliest and one of the few instances  by
Matisse  to  represent physical agony and violence. Copy #211 of  1500
SIGNED  in  pencil by the artist. Covers are remarkably  bright,  like
new  with  just  a touch of rubbing to the central  gilt  device.  The
front  hinge  was  apparently cracked at one point but is  now  tight,
though  whoever did the repair could have been more careful as part of
the  free  endpaper  is adhered to the front pastdown at  the  gutter.
Very  slightly  shaken;  contents fresh. Slipcase with  archival  tape
repairs  along  bottom edge and part of top edge. Very Good in  soiled
Good or better slipcase.                                      $5000.00

3.  JOYCE, James. ULYSSES. London & Paris: Egoist Press - John  Rodker
1922.  First  Edition.  The First English Edition, printed  in  France
from  the plates of the original edition. Copy #1120 of 2000  numbered
copies  printed  on handmade paper, of which some 500 are supposed  to
have  been seized and burnt by United States Customs officials  though
the  evidence  for  this  is  not  conclusive.  In  contemporary  full
gilt-ruled  dark green morocco recently rebacked retaining nearly  all
of  the  original spine; gilt lettering on the front cover and  spine.
The  original front blue wrap is bound in at the end. The eight  pages
of "Errata" are present. Near Fine                            $3000.00

4.  JOYCE, James. ULYSSES. London & Paris: Egoist Press - John  Rodker
1922.  First  Edition.  The First English Edition, printed  in  France
from  the  plates of the original edition. Copy #690 of 2000  numbered
copies  printed  on handmade paper, of which some 500 are supposed  to
have  been seized and burnt by United States Customs officials  though
the  evidence  for this is not conclusive. In the original blue  wraps
with  the eight pages of "Errata" loosely laid in. The wraps have been
professionally  reinforced  underneath with similar blue  paper,  most
noticably  replacing  a chunk out of the lower right  corner  somewhat
larger  than  a  silver  dollar.  In  a  cloth  clamshell  box  with a
gilt-lettered morocco spine label. Near Fine                  $4500.00
-- 

All books subject to prior sale.  Cash with order; institutions may be 
billed.  Postage additional:  $9.00 for the first book, $5.00 each 
thereafter.  Overseas postage billed at approximate cost. Pennsylvania 
residents must add 6% sales tax.  Mastercard, Visa, American Express and 
Discover accepted.  Books may be returned within 10 days of receipt for 
any reason provided they are in the same condition as sent and prior 
notice is given. Please insure returns for their full value.  We carry a 
diverse stock with major specialties including Modern and 19th Century 
Literary First Editions, Autographed Books, and Limited Editions Club 
books.  We are celebrating our 20th year of business and are proud to be 
members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) and 
the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB) as well as 
the Manuscript Society and the Universal Autograph Collectors Club 
(UACC).  Please feel free to contact us with any wants or offerings. 
Thank you.

CHARLES AGVENT
291 Linden Road
Mertztown, PA  19539-8750
610-682-4750
agvent at erols.com
Visit our home page:  http://www.erols.com/agvent