Ulysses. Paris: Shakespeare & Co., 1922. First Edition. Publisher’s original blue paper wrappers lettered in white, the contents pages unopened & in nice bright condition throughout. Light fraying along spine but overall a lovely, unrestored example of this famously fragile production. Housed in collector’s solander box.

One of 750 copies on handmade paper (this copy no. 570).

The first printing consisted of 1,000 copies, divided into three various limitations:

 The first 100 copies were printed on fine handmade paper, numbered 1-100, and signed by Joyce. Copies 101-250 Large Paper Copies, on Vergé D’Arches . The final 750 copies (as here) were numbered 251-1,000, printed on the least expensive stock of paper.

The book was scheduled for publication on February 2nd, 1922, Joyce’s fortieth birthday, but because of technical problems with printing the cover (which he wished to match in colour the blue of the Greek flag), only two copies were ready by that date. Joyce expressed his appreciation for the book in a note to the publisher Sylvia Beach: ‘I cannot let today pass without thanking you for all the trouble and worry you have given yourself about my book during the last year.’

The impact of Joyce’s Ulysses was revolutionary in its own time, and the book continues to stand as the single most significant English language novel of the last century.