The first edition of Ulysses is a remarkable object. Its distinctive blue paper cover and its squarish dimensions mark one of the most collectable books of the 20th century. A buyer of such a copy, when it appeared in 1922, would have been expected to hand it over to a binder who would have stripped off the paper cover, trimmed and cut the pages, and thus inadvertently diminished the book’s value significantly. The Spencer Library copy seen here is exactly as issued; it has not been altered in any way. As the colophon notes, there were actually three different printings for the first edition. The first issue of the first edition was printed on Dutch handmade paper in 100 copies, numbered and signed by Joyce. This copy is number 88 and bears Joyce’s signature. The second issue was printed on Arches paper in 150 copies and numbered 101 to 250, and the third issue on unidentified handmade paper in 750 copies. The Spencer Library has a copy of the third issue. Joyce’s Ulysses was already famous well before it was published because of its having been banned when it had appeared in serial form. It went through many subsequent reprintings in Paris, always retaining its distinctive physical format, but the “First, First” remains one of the most sought-after books of our times.

 

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