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Lolita
by NABOKOV, Vladimir
- Used
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Beverly Hills, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Paris: The Olympia Press, 1955. Full Description:
NABOKOV, Vladimir. Lolita. Paris: The Olympia Press, [1955].
First edition, first issue (with "Francs : 900" printed on rear wrappers and no evidence of sticker removal). Two small octavo volumes (7 x 4 3/1/2 inches; 177 x 114 mm). [2, blank except for signature mark], [6], 7-10, 13-188, [1, blank], [1, printer's imprint], [2, blank]; [2, blank except for signature mark], [6], 9-223, [1, printer's imprint] pp.
Original green printed wrappers. Wrappers printed in black and white. The slightest amount of rubbing to wrapper edges. Practically unread, with a few pages unopened. A bit of very minor flaking extremities of spines and wrapper edges. Overall an about fine copy of this high spot of twentieth-century literature. Housed in a custom green cloth clamshell with morocco spine label.
"[Lolita]presents a quest for eternal innocence, albeit in satirical terms. Its popular appeal as an erotic story thrust Nabokov into notoriety. It was banned from France and parts of the U.S., and its merits were debated in the British Parliament. Nabokov defended it as a moral rather than an obscene book. It combines parody, fanciful imaginative flights, literary puzzles, and a brilliant satirical overview of American culture." (Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia, 610).
HBS 69139.
$6,500.
NABOKOV, Vladimir. Lolita. Paris: The Olympia Press, [1955].
First edition, first issue (with "Francs : 900" printed on rear wrappers and no evidence of sticker removal). Two small octavo volumes (7 x 4 3/1/2 inches; 177 x 114 mm). [2, blank except for signature mark], [6], 7-10, 13-188, [1, blank], [1, printer's imprint], [2, blank]; [2, blank except for signature mark], [6], 9-223, [1, printer's imprint] pp.
Original green printed wrappers. Wrappers printed in black and white. The slightest amount of rubbing to wrapper edges. Practically unread, with a few pages unopened. A bit of very minor flaking extremities of spines and wrapper edges. Overall an about fine copy of this high spot of twentieth-century literature. Housed in a custom green cloth clamshell with morocco spine label.
"[Lolita]presents a quest for eternal innocence, albeit in satirical terms. Its popular appeal as an erotic story thrust Nabokov into notoriety. It was banned from France and parts of the U.S., and its merits were debated in the British Parliament. Nabokov defended it as a moral rather than an obscene book. It combines parody, fanciful imaginative flights, literary puzzles, and a brilliant satirical overview of American culture." (Benét's Reader's Encyclopedia, 610).
HBS 69139.
$6,500.
Synopsis
Lolita is widely regarded as one of the greatest books of the 20th Century. The cultural influence of Lolita cannot be understated, and numerous editions have been printed since 1955. The book has been made into movies, plays, and has sparked countless conversations about relationships and the nature of obsession. Even the covers of the later editions have sparked controversy, as they feature potentially suggestive depictions of the famous "nymphet". Unsurprisingly, Lolita is often at the top of banned books lists in high schools.
Read More: Identifying first editions of Lolita
Reviews
On Aug 26 2014, a reader said:
Vladimir Nabokov's postmodern masterpiece about a man's obsession with a young girl is nothing short of remarkable. Not only does Nabokov situate the story within the context of Cold War America, but he has the ability to make the reader sympathise with an otherwise immoral character. Through Nabokov's lyrical, poetic and deceptive writing, the story becomes at once comical and poignant. Underneath all the amusing and colourful metaphors and allusions to American popular culture is a deeply affecting story about obsession, innocence and unrequited love. As with Jack Kerouac's On The Road, the theme of 'the journey' is strongly emphasised throughout, as the lead character descends deeper into madness as he and his step-daughter travel around America. A cult classic and must-read, Lolita is the work of genius.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Heritage Book Shop, LLC
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 69139
- Title
- Lolita
- Author
- NABOKOV, Vladimir
- Book Condition
- Used
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- The Olympia Press
- Place of Publication
- Paris
- Date Published
- 1955
- Keywords
- Modern Firsts|Twentieth Century Literature
Terms of Sale
Heritage Book Shop, LLC
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including original shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
Heritage Book Shop, LLC
Biblio member since 2006
Beverly Hills, California
About Heritage Book Shop, LLC
Owned and operated by Ben Weinstein, who has been in the business of antiquarian books for over fifty years, Heritage Book Shop\'s inventory consists of some of the finest items in the areas of first editions, early printed books, bindings, illustrated books, literature, and manuscripts. Heritage Book Shop serves a clientele base consisting of private collectors as well as esteemed public institutions. We take great pride in the dedication we offer our clients. Whether you are building a first-rate collection of a favorite author or an extensive library, we look forward to offering the experience of our knowledgeable and helpful staff.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Morocco
- Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
- Unopened
- A state in which all or some of the pages of a book have not been separated from the adjacent pages, caused by a traditional...
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Rubbing
- Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- Spine Label
- The paper or leather descriptive tag attached to the spine of the book, most commonly providing the title and author of the...
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