Online Auction 31 - Jewish and Israeli History and Culture
Part I
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov – First Israeli Edition, Published by Steimatzky – One of the First English Editions of the Novel
Opening: $150
Sold for: $275
Including buyer's premium
Lolita, by Vladimir Nabokov. Printed for Olympia Press by Steimatzky's Agency. Jerusalem: Offset Sh. Monson [S. Monsohn], [1958/1959 (on the title page: 1955)]. English. Limited edition.
An early English edition of the novel "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov (possibly, the first hardcover edition). This edition was printed in Israel by Steimatzky's Agency, and is the first Israeli edition of the novel. The copies of the edition were numbered on the paper dust-jacket. This copy is numbered 165.
Nabokov completed the writing of "Lolita" in 1953, while living in the USA. Due to its controversial content, the novel was rejected by several large American publishing houses and was eventually published in Paris in 1955 by Olympia Press, which specialized in erotic literature. Since its release, the book was banned in some countries, provoking debate on the freedom of speech and literary censorship. Nevertheless, the novel gained much popularity; today it is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of the 20th century.
The Israeli publisher Yechezkel Steimatzky was one of the first to publish the novel Lolita in English. It remains unclear who authorized the printing – American publisher Walter Minton, Maurice Girodias of Olympia Press or Nabokov himself. Although the year printed on the title page of Steimatzky's edition is 1955 (the year the first edition was printed), the book was presumably published in 1958 or 1959.
190 pp; [1] f., 9-223 pp. 18.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and minor blemishes. Hard binding, with the original paper dust-jacket. Blemishes and tears to dust-jacket (dust-jacket reinforced with tape).
An early English edition of the novel "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov (possibly, the first hardcover edition). This edition was printed in Israel by Steimatzky's Agency, and is the first Israeli edition of the novel. The copies of the edition were numbered on the paper dust-jacket. This copy is numbered 165.
Nabokov completed the writing of "Lolita" in 1953, while living in the USA. Due to its controversial content, the novel was rejected by several large American publishing houses and was eventually published in Paris in 1955 by Olympia Press, which specialized in erotic literature. Since its release, the book was banned in some countries, provoking debate on the freedom of speech and literary censorship. Nevertheless, the novel gained much popularity; today it is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of the 20th century.
The Israeli publisher Yechezkel Steimatzky was one of the first to publish the novel Lolita in English. It remains unclear who authorized the printing – American publisher Walter Minton, Maurice Girodias of Olympia Press or Nabokov himself. Although the year printed on the title page of Steimatzky's edition is 1955 (the year the first edition was printed), the book was presumably published in 1958 or 1959.
190 pp; [1] f., 9-223 pp. 18.5 cm. Good condition. Stains and minor blemishes. Hard binding, with the original paper dust-jacket. Blemishes and tears to dust-jacket (dust-jacket reinforced with tape).
Literature - First Editions
Literature - First Editions