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James Joyce’s Ulysses first edition copies have become prized items in the world of rare book auctions, fetching remarkable prices and underscoring its enduring literary significance.
The first edition, published by Sylvia Beach’s Shakespeare and Company in Paris on February 2, 1922, was a limited run of only 1,000 copies, each meticulously printed and bound. These copies are not only literary treasures but also historical artifacts, representing a pivotal moment in literary history. 100 copies were signed by Joyce and printed on Dutch handmade paper, 150 copies were printed on verge d'Arches paper and the remaining 750 copies were printed on Dutch handmade paper, but were not signed.
The auction of first edition copies of Ulysses has seen extraordinary interest and high prices. One of the most notable auctions occurred in 2002, when a signed first edition was sold for $460,500 at Christie’s in New York. At the time it was the highest price recorded for a 20th-century first edition of any book, ever. Another notable auction occurred in 2009 when a first edition, inscribed by Joyce to his patron Harriet Shaw Weaver, fetched £275,000 at Sotheby’s in London. This particular copy was valued not only for its rarity but also for its association with Weaver, who played a crucial role in supporting Joyce financially and morally during the writing of Ulysses. These auctions underscore the novel's continued relevance and the esteem in which it is held by literary enthusiasts and collectors alike.
The translations of Ulysses and the auctions of its first edition copies highlight the novel’s global impact and its lasting legacy. The story of Ulysses is not only about its creation but also about its journey across languages and its cherished place in the annals of literary history.
Welcome to the journey.
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