Ulysses by Joyce, James - 1925

Paris: Shakespeare and Co, 1925. Octavo. 7th printing. Inscribed by the author and dated Paris, 1926 to the well known artist Ivan Opffer who is remembered for his portraits of writers and other notable figures including James Joyce and it is also inscribed by Ivan Opffer dated Jan. 1927. Joyce's Ulysses went through several printing. The first printing was of 1000 numbered copies, The second printing by the Egoist Press of London printed 2000 copies of which 500 copies were burned by the New York Post Office Authorities. The third printing, of which there were 500 copies printed, 499 of those copies were seized by customs authorities. When Ulysses was first published, there was much controversy over its contents. It was banned in the U.K. and the United States because of the belief it contained too much obscenity ( for the period). Today, it is considered one of the most important works of Modern literature. The present copy is bound in a striking custom brown Niger goatskin binding decorated with an art deco flair of onlays in maroon, lighter brown and black with a portrait of James Joyce from a portrait by Ivan Opffer in blind on cream goatskin framed in turquoise, with gilt signature. Just a bit of toning to page edges otherwise a superb copy with a worthwhile provenance.