Lolita, By Vladimir Nabokov — HC/DJ, Probable First U. S. Printing
Item History & Price
Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov — HC/DJ, probable first U.S. printing!Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s SonsYear: 1958 (This isn’t indicated on the copyright page, butkeep reading! Originally published in 1955 by Olympia Press, Paris.)In the 1950s, publishers hadn’t yet begun printing the words“First Edition” on the copyright page, so what makes it likely that this copycomes from the first U.S. printing? Consider the following: The dust jacket blurb includes the statement that “thehis...tory of LOLITA since it first appeared in an edition issued by the OlympiaPress of Paris has been a fascinating one. Only now, three years after originalpublication, is an American edition being published.” Thus, this publication dates from 1958; in fact, the San Francisco Chronicle announced onJuly 10th, 1958, that Putnam would publish Lolitathe following month, and the earliest American reviews appeared as soon as thebook did, on August 17th, 1958. Copies from the second, third, etc., printings carrystatements to that effect on their copyright; no such statement appears in thiscopy. Add to this the fact that the previous owner whose nameappears on the flyleaf was married to the seller’s mother until January 1959, and you have what has to be a very early printing — quite possibly one of thevery first copies to roll off the presses.All in all, an essential purchase for any Nabokovian!(Before you even ask: how Mom ended up with her ex’s copy ofthis particular book is over my head.) Condition: Very good, in good dust jacket.Boards and spine show shelf wear consistent with the book’s age. Front boardshows faint abrasion at hinge. Back board is slightly warped and has a small“ding” on the bottom edge. Both boards are discolored at edges. Head and tailof spine are slightly collapsed. End papers discolored. Previous owner’s nameinscribed on flyleaf. Text block is complete, clean, and fairly tight; somepages are discolored at edges. DJ is sunned on spine and at edges, faintlysoiled in spots, and has numerous small tears, chips, and creases.
