Books

First edition, first impression. Unable to find an American publisher to accept Lolita, Nabokov turned to Paris, where the Olympia Press printed 5,000 copies. British Customs officials received instructions to seize copies at the border, and a year later the work was banned in France. Despite censorship, the novel remained popular and sold 100,000 copies in America in 1958. This copy is in Juliar's issue "B", re-priced from 900 to 1,200 Francs at the time of publication due to a sudden currency fluctuation. The publisher's price label for 1,200 is mounted over the printed price of 900 Francs on the rear wrapper of Volume One and has been sometime removed from the rear wrapper of Volume Two. Subsequent issues and impressions were sold at 2,400 Francs. The novel achieved immediate cult status in the UK on its publication in London in 1959. "Few books published in this country since the King James Bible can have set up more eager expectation than Lolita, nor, on the other hand, can any work have been much better known in advance to its potential audience" (Amis). Two vols, octavo. Original green and white wrappers printed in black. Spines toned, edges rubbed, small mark of soiling to front cover of Volume One, contents clean. A very good set. Juliar A28.1b. For Amis, 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.