JOYCE, James. Ulysses [LIMITED EDITIONS CLUB – SIGNED BY JOYCE & MATISSE]

Introduction by Stuart Gilbert. With 26 illustrations by Henri Matisse. New York: The Limited Editions Club, 1935. Quarto. pp. xv, [iii], 363, [3]. Publisher's original brown buckram, embossed in gilt and titled on front cover and on flat spine, the decorations from a design by LeRoy H. Appleton. In the publisher's original slipcase with some wear to the fore-edges and extremities as usual. Minimal wear to spine. Loosely inserted is The Monthly Letter of the Limited Editions Club, featuring an article on Homer and Joyce. Signed by both Joyce and Matisse. A very nice and well-preserved near fine copy.

Slocum & Cahoon A22.

The illustrations depict the Calypso, Aeolus, Cyclops, Nausicaa, Circe, and Ithaca episodes from Homer's Odyssey. The only book illustrated by Matisse to be published in America, and one of the great collaborations of artist and author in the annals of private press publication. In the opinion of art publisher Monroe Wheeler, "it was a great idea to bring [Joyce and Matisse] together" since they were "celebrities of the same generation, of similar virtuosity." Newman says that this work and the Limited Editions Club Lysistrata "stand as landmarks in the history of the illustrated book," and that Ulysses is almost certainly the most famous work among LEC publications designed by George Macy.

Joyce was furious when he learned that Matisse had chosen to illustrate scenes from Homer's 'Odyssey,' rather than from his novel, and as a consequence, after signing 250 he stopped signing the present Limited Editions Club printing (whereas Matisse signed them all).

One of the magnificent and extremely rare 250 copies signed by both James Joyce and Henri Matisse.