Tropic Of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
Henry Miller’s Tropic of Cancer is one of the most notoriously and frequently censored books in the history of American literature. In a combination of autobiography and fiction, the novel centers of Miller’s own life as a struggling writer in Paris in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Tropic of Cancer is written in the first person and lacks linear organization, two of Miller’s most favored techniques. Some chapters are narratives about Miller’s friends and workplaces, and others are stream-of-consciousness-style reflections, but all of the chapters touch on the sexual exploits and general low-life ruthlessness in which the author had engaged at the time.
Tropic of Cancer was first published by Obelisk Press, a French publisher of soft pornography, in Paris in 1934. Shortly thereafter, the novel was banned in the US and later tried for charges of obscenity, a trial that challenged American pornography laws at the time. In 1961, the ban of Tropic of Cancer was lifted, and later that year, Grove Press published the first US edition of the novel, but only after the firm’s Barney Rosset offered Miller a sizeable advance and promised to defend the author in any future legal battles regarding the publication. Grove Press’s edition of Tropic of Cancer sold over 1 million copies by the end of 1961… and was the subject of about 60 lawsuits as well, one of which involved the American Civil Liberties Union.
All of this hullabaloo makes one wonder what the reactions might have been if Miller had decided to go with the novel’s working title, Crazy Cock — which was, ironically, far more modest than the published version. Regardless, the novel’s 1970 film adaptation, directed by Joseph Strick, received an X rating (meaning no one 17 and under admitted). Today, Tropic of Cancer finds itself ranked 50th on Modern Library’s “100 Best” English-language novels of the 20th century and 59th on The Guardian’s list of the 100 best novels.
First Edition Identification and Notes
Obelisk Press first published Tropic of Cancer in Paris in 1934. True first editions states “First Published September 1934” on the copyright page. Maurice Girodias, who would later become famous as the leading French publisher of erotic literature, designed the artwork of the novel’s soft cover, featuring a giant crab holding a naked woman in its pinchers. With an original print run of 1,000 copies, first editions of Tropic of Caner are rare. Signed copies have sold for upwards of $10,000.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
Grove Press published the first US edition of Tropic of Cancer in 1961. The 100 numbered copies of the limited issue release state “First Printing” on the copyright page as well as the original price of $7.50 on the dust jacket. Signed copies of this edition have sold for upwards of $2,000.
…But before the first US edition was the first pirated American edition. In 1940, Medusa published Tropic of Cancer, printing then novel in Mexico and then illegally distributing it in the US. Bound in green cloth, signed copies of this edition have sold for upwards of $1,500.
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by MILLER HENRY
- Seller
- James M Pickard, ABA, ILAB, PBFA.
- Published
- 1934
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$6,054.83
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![cover of Tropic of Cancer [with] Tropic of Capricorn - Both signed, located and dated by the Author](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/450/179/1139179450.0.m.jpg)
Tropic of Cancer [with] Tropic of Capricorn - Both signed, located and dated by the Author
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- John Atkinson Books
- Published
- 1963-4
- Item Price
-
$3,505.43
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Tropic of Cancer
by MILLER, Henry.
- Seller
- Bernard Quaritch Ltd
- Published
- 1963 and 1964
- Item Price
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$1,912.05
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Wonderland Books
- Published
- no date
- Item Price
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$1,750.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Bookbid Rare Books
- Published
- 1934
- Condition
- good
- Edition
- first
- Item Price
-
$1,500.00
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Tropic of Cancer - The Complete Unexpurgated Grove Press Edition
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- AB Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- As New
- ISBN
- 9780802131782
- Item Price
-
$1,260.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Henry Miller
- Seller
- Last Exit Books
- Published
- 1940
- Condition
- Fair
- Edition
- First Edition; First Printing
- Item Price
-
$1,000.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by MILLER, Henry
- Seller
- Between the Covers- Rare Books, Inc. ABAA
- Published
- 1939
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
-
$950.00
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by MILLER HENRY
- Seller
- James M Pickard, ABA, ILAB, PBFA.
- Published
- 1935
- Item Price
-
$892.29
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TROPIC OF CANCER - ORIGINAL PROSPECTUS
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Captain Ahab's Rare Books
- Published
- 1934
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$850.00
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by Henry Miller
- Seller
- Cedar Tree Antiques
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$775.00
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Tropic of Cancer.
by MILLER, Henry.
- Seller
- Peter Harrington
- Published
- 1961
- Item Price
-
$764.82
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by Miller Henry
- Seller
- Buddenbrooks, Inc.
- Published
- 1961
- Item Price
-
$715.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
-
$700.00
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by Henry Miller
- Seller
- Rare Book Cellar
- Published
- 1961
- Edition
- First Edition; First Printing
- Item Price
-
$674.95
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Burnside Rare Books, ABAA
- Published
- 1959
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
-
$600.00
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Tropic Of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- The Old Book Shop of Bordentown (ABNJ)
- Published
- 1940
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First American edition
- Item Price
-
$575.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Trilby & Co. Books
- Published
- 1961-01-01
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Item Price
-
$550.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by MILLER, Henry
- Seller
- Argosy Book Store
- Published
- 1939
- Condition
- fine
- Edition
- First
- Item Price
-
$500.00
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Quill & Brush
- Published
- 1940
- Item Price
-
$500.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Trilby & Co. Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Item Price
-
$495.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Structure, Verses, Agency Books - Member, I.O.B.A.
- Published
- 1938
- Condition
- Fair
- Item Price
-
$401.50
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Tropic of Cancer (Original photograph from the set of the 1970 film)
by Henry Miller (novel); Joseph Strick (director, screenwriter); Betty Botley (screenwriter); Rip Torn (starring)
- Seller
- Royal Books, Inc.
- Published
- 1970
- Item Price
-
$400.00
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Tropic of Cancer (Original poster for the 1970 film)
by Henry Miller (novel); Joseph Strick (director, screenwriter); Betty Botley (screenwriter); Rip Torn, James T. Callahan, Ellen Burstyn, David Baur (starring)
- Seller
- Royal Books, Inc.
- Published
- 1970
- Item Price
-
$375.00
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TROPIC OF CANCER (First Edition Library Exact Facsimilie)
by MILLER, HENRY
- Seller
- RON RAMSWICK BOOKS, IOBA
- Published
- 1983
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Edition Thus
- Item Price
-
$350.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by MILLER, Henry
- Seller
- Lorne Bair Rare Books
- Published
- 1940
- Item Price
-
$350.00
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Second Story Books
- Published
- 1940
- Edition
- First Paperback Edition, Variant Binding
- Item Price
-
$320.00
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- A. Parker's Books, Inc.
- Published
- [ 1994 ]
- Condition
- Very good+
- Edition
- Facsimile of the 1934 first edition
- Item Price
-
$300.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Books For You
- Published
- 1940
- Condition
- Very Good -
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$295.00
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Tropic Of Cancer
by Miller Henry
- Seller
- Mammy Bears Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$286.18
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Koster's Collectible Books
- Published
- 1940
- Condition
- Good
- Item Price
-
$275.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry (1891-1980)
- Seller
- MW Books Ltd.
- Published
- 1963
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$234.00
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Richard Sylvanus Williams (Est 1976) (Bookdealer)
- Published
- 1939
- Condition
- VG
- Edition
- 5th Printing
- Item Price
-
$228.80
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Chequamegon Book Company
- Published
- 1940
- Condition
- Very Good+
- Item Price
-
$200.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by MILLER, HENRY
- Seller
- Karol Krysik Books, ABAC/ILAB, IOBA, PBFA
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- VG
- Edition
- 1st Grove Edition
- Item Price
-
$200.05
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- J. Mercurio Books, Maps, & Prints
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$185.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Henry Miller
- Seller
- Rooke Books
- Published
- 1963
- Condition
- Very Good Indeed
- Edition
- First edition
- Item Price
-
$178.46
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Midway Used and Rare Books
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Very Good in Very Good dust jacket
- Edition
- First printing
- Item Price
-
$150.00
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- William Reese Company - Literature ABAA-ILAB
- Published
- 1945
- Item Price
-
$150.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- 2nd Act Media
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item Price
-
$150.00
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Tropic of Cancer Miller, Henry
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Twice Sold Tales
- Published
- 1983-06-12
- Condition
- Very Good
- ISBN
- 9780394604350
- Item Price
-
$150.00
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TROPIC OF CANCER.
by Henry Miller
- Seller
- Libreria Bacbuc
- Published
- 1946
- Item Price
-
$134.91
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- GridFreed LLC
- Published
- 1983-06-12
- Condition
- New
- ISBN
- 9780394604350
- Item Price
-
$124.26
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Tropic of Cancer.
by MILLER, Henry
- Seller
- ATGBooks
- Condition
- Very Good
- Item Price
-
$120.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Transmutation Publishing
- Published
- 1961
- Condition
- Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Item Price
-
$120.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Weysprings Books, IOBA, PBFA
- Published
- 1963
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First UK Edition, First Printing
- Item Price
-
$114.72
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Tropic of Cancer
by Henry Miller
- Seller
- Blue Leaf Books
- Published
- 1961
- Edition
- First
- Item Price
-
$105.00
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Tropic of Cancer Miller, Henry
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Twice Sold Tales
- Published
- 1983-06-12
- Condition
- Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- ISBN
- 9780394604350
- Item Price
-
$100.00
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TROPIC OF CANCER
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Well Read Books
- Published
- 1940
- Condition
- Fair to Good
- Item Price
-
$100.00
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Tropic of Cancer
by Miller, Henry
- Seller
- Le Bookiniste, ABAA-ILAB-IOBA
- Published
- 1961
- Edition
- First American Edition, 1st Printing
- Item Price
-
$100.00