Ulysses.
JOYCE, James; Henri Matisse.
Ulysses.
The Limited Editions Club Edition of James Joyce's Ulysses; Signed by Illustrator Henri Matisse; In the Rare Original Slipcase
New York : The Limited Editions Club, 1935.
$9,500.00
In Stock
Item Number: 151736
The Limited Editions Club signed limited edition of Joyce’s landmark Ulysses, widely recognized as the first illustrated edition. Large quarto, original gilt-stamped pictorial brown cloth, with 26 illustrations. One of 1,500 numbered copies, this is number 1,476. Boldly signed by Henri Matisse in pencil on the colophon page at the rear. In near fine condition. Introduction by Stuart Gilbert. Housed in the rare original board slipcase which is in good condition. One of the 20th-century’s most desirable illustrated books, combining the work of two great modern artists. A nice example, with the rare slipcase.
One of the most arresting collaborations in 20th-century literature. "It was a great idea to bring them together; celebrities of the same generation, of similar virtuosity" (Wheeler, 15). The 26 beautiful full-page illustrations by Matisse accompany the text of Joyce's Ulysses, including six soft-ground etchings with reproductions of the sketches on blue and yellow paper. "One of the very few American livres de peintres issued before World War II. According to George Macy [this work's designer], who undertook this only American publication of Matisse's illustrations, he asked the artist how many etchings the latter could provide for $5000. The artist chose to take six subjects from Homer's Odyssey. The preparatory drawings reproduced with the soft-ground etchings (Matisse's only use of this medium) record the evolution of the figures from vigorous sketches to closely knit compositions" (Artist and the Book 197).
