Books

Henry Miller (1939) Tropic of Capricorn , true first edition, published in Paris by the Obelisk Press. Signed and inscribed by the author in blue ink on the front free endpaper in the month of publication: To / Miola and Annie / from / Henry Miller / with best of greetings / Paris / 5/ 25/ 39 . First edition, first state, with Henry Miller and 60 FRS on spine, printed flaps, price on both of them not blocked, no price on back panel and yellow errata slip affixed on the title page (Jackson and Ashley, Henry Miller A Bibliography of Primary Sources, Volume II, A21a). Octavo in printed red wrappers, 367 numbered pages. One of only 1,000 copies printed. Condition: The book is square and tight, strong binding, light edge-wear and creasing to wrappers mainly at the bottom where the covers are oversized; three very short closed tears, the longest being 13 mm to joins tips, a touch of soiling to spine which is slightly creased, a faint damp stain on the back wrapper which doesn t affect the inner pages. Traces of discrete and professional mending at spine very bottom, not affecting the lettering, and hinges. Housed in a quarter-bound tobacco leather and cloth clamshell box. A very good, fresh copy. Although the book publication was scheduled for February, 1939 and so it is stated on the half title verso, it was delayed until May (Jackson and Ashley, Volume II, p. 12). Tropic of Capricorn, Miller s masterpiece along with Tropic of Cancer, was one of the great censorship cases of Twentieth Century and it was published in Paris as Miller s works were banned in the United States for their explicit sexual contents until the 1960s. First and Fine.

'Tropic of Capricorn' is a semi-autobiographical novel by Henry Miller, delving into the life of the narrator prior to events in 'Tropic of Cancer'. It combines personal narrative with philosophical musings and social criticism.