[Rarebooks] FS: Signed Limited Samuel Beckett: MURPHY, Publisher Barney Rosset's copy

[Charles Agvent]

Today is the 50th anniversary of the court ruling that overturned 
America’s obscenity laws.  The historic case began on 15 May 1959 when 
Barney Rosset, publisher of Grove Press, sued the Post Office for 
confiscating copies of the uncensored version of D. H. Lawrence’s 1928 
novel “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” which had long been banned for its 
graphic sex scenes.  We offer Rosset's copy of the signed limited 
edition of Samuel Beckett's MURPHY, a book he published.

> 1. BECKETT, Samuel. MURPHY [Publisher's Copy]. New York: Grove Press, [1957].  First American
> Edition of his first published novel, first published in England in 1938. Copy #22 of only 100 numbered copies SIGNED
> by the author and specially bound in gilt-stamped brown cloth and tan boards. Grove Press publisher Barney Rosset's copy
> with the following in his hand on the front endpaper: "publisher's copy/Barney Rosset - GROVE PRESS." Rosset
> introduced American readers to numerous significant writers, including Beckett, Ionesco, Genet, Pinter, and Stoppard. He
> led a successful legal battle to publish the uncensored version of D. H. Lawrence's novel LADY CHATTERLEY'S
> LOVER, and later was the American publisher of Henry Miller's controversial novel TROPIC OF CANCER. The right to
> publish and distribute Miller's novel in the United States was affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1964,
> in a landmark ruling for free speech and the First Amendment. Near Fine without dustwrapper, as issued.  $5,000.00


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