Books

First edition, first impression, first issue. Lolita was originally published with "Francs: 900" printed on the rear covers, but a sudden currency fluctuation at the time of publication meant that the books had to be re-priced to 1,200 francs. Copies of the first issue appear either without a price change, as here, or with the bookseller's hand-written correction. The second issue appeared with the publisher's overprice sticker on the rear covers. In this copy, the price of the second volume is untouched, and the price of the first volume has been lightly inked over in blank, but with no corrected price added, meaning this is likely to be some later marking, and not any sign of second issue. Nabokov, unable to find an American publisher brave enough to accept Lolita, turned to Paris to find a press. Olympia printed 5,000 copies in 1955; customs officials in the UK were quickly instructed to seize copies of the book at the border, and a year later it was also banned in France. Widespread censorship did little to dampen the book's success; when it was finally published in the USA in 1958 it topped bestseller lists, selling 100,000 copies in the first few weeks. Provenance: with the ownership inscription of Donald Richie (1924-2013), American author and critic of Japanese cinema, to rear inner wrapper of volume II. Richie wrote several books on Japan, and essays on the nature of Japanese cinema: a personal friend of Yasujirō Ozu and Akira Kurosawa, he prepared the English subtitles for some of Kurosawa's most famous films, including Kagemusha and Dreams. Two volumes, octavo. Original green and white wrappers printed in black. Housed in a custom green and red cloth flat-back box, red morocco title label on spine. Penciled ownership inscription of one A. Lurie to front free endpaper, quite possibly the American novelist Alison Lurie (1926-2020). Printed price on the rear wrapper of vol. I inked over. Spine of vol. I leaning, joints lightly rubbed and toned but firm, spines and outer corners creased, lettering on the front wrapper of vol. I a little smudged, small bump to the rear wrapper of vol. I, internally bright and clean. A very nice set. Juliar A28.1; Kearney 24. For Amis, Kirsch, and Prescott, see "Sick, Scandalous, Spectacular: The First Reviews of Lolita", 18 August 2020, Literary Hub, available online.

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.