Lady Chatterley's Lover
Lawrence, D[avid]. H[erbert]
Florence. Privately printed for the author. 1928
Sold
First edition, uncut and unopened, and one of 1,000 signed and numbered copies in the original cream dust-jacket, of Lawrence's notorious masterpiece.
Lawrence's novel was objectionable on several levels (class transgression, Anglo-Saxon oaths and graphic depictions of sexual congress among others) and knowing this, Lawrence produced this edition with his own funds. Aware that no publisher (or at least no British or American publisher) would publish such a book without considerable alteration, Lawrence paid to have the book printed in Italy using typesetters who knew no English. In addition, Lawrence ensured that the book was issued in a plain dust-jacket which allowed for smuggling. The full version of the text was published in Britain by Penguin in 1960, over 30 years later, prompting their prosecution under the 1959 Obscene Publications Act; the prosecution was defeated on the basis that Lawrence's text had artistic merit.
Loosely inserted into this copy, is a photograph of Collingwood Gee's 'Discussing Lady Chatterley', which features Lawrence, Norman Douglas and Reggie Turner discussing the book with the printer Pino Orioli. The photograph, inscribed on the verso 'from G. Orioli 16.xi.1933' is accompanied by a letter - to the grand-father of the previous owner - discussing the portrait ('It was painted only a few months ago - Carletto had to sit for Lawrence, I for Norman and Norman for Reggie. What next?') and noting that 'Gee now is asking 5000 lire for it'.
'I consider my novel pure in the best sense - and warm-hearted. But the Puritan will want to smite me down.' (D. H. Lawrence).
Lawrence's novel was objectionable on several levels (class transgression, Anglo-Saxon oaths and graphic depictions of sexual congress among others) and knowing this, Lawrence produced this edition with his own funds. Aware that no publisher (or at least no British or American publisher) would publish such a book without considerable alteration, Lawrence paid to have the book printed in Italy using typesetters who knew no English. In addition, Lawrence ensured that the book was issued in a plain dust-jacket which allowed for smuggling. The full version of the text was published in Britain by Penguin in 1960, over 30 years later, prompting their prosecution under the 1959 Obscene Publications Act; the prosecution was defeated on the basis that Lawrence's text had artistic merit.
Loosely inserted into this copy, is a photograph of Collingwood Gee's 'Discussing Lady Chatterley', which features Lawrence, Norman Douglas and Reggie Turner discussing the book with the printer Pino Orioli. The photograph, inscribed on the verso 'from G. Orioli 16.xi.1933' is accompanied by a letter - to the grand-father of the previous owner - discussing the portrait ('It was painted only a few months ago - Carletto had to sit for Lawrence, I for Norman and Norman for Reggie. What next?') and noting that 'Gee now is asking 5000 lire for it'.
'I consider my novel pure in the best sense - and warm-hearted. But the Puritan will want to smite me down.' (D. H. Lawrence).
pp. (leaf with justification verso), title, 365, (i). 8vo. (232 x 170 mm). Original publisher's mulberry paper-covered boards, white paper title label to spine, black monochrome vignette to upper board, original publisher's cream dust-jacket.
#40437
