Description: [Radclyffe Hall] The Well of Loneliness Published by The Obelisk Press in Paris 1933 512pp with titled soft pale green wrappers, the rear flap with adverts for 14 titles with blurbs which were also published by The Obelisk Press at 50 Frs. each. Undated, but well documented as being published in 1933 (A-23 in the list published in “Obelisk: A History of Jack Kahane and The Obelisk Press” by Neil Pearson). Edges uncut Approx. 150x220mm., splitting to about half of the front cover hinge at upper and lower edges, fly leaf detached, other wear, light loss and chipping in places, and overall rather fragile. The Well of Loneliness was a lesbian novel by the authorMarguerite Radcliffe Hall (1880 - 1943) which was originally published by Jonathan Cape in 1928 with a small print run of 1500 copies priced at 15 shillings (about twice the normal cost of a novel at that time). Within a short time it was banned as being thought obscene, and Cape withdrew the book in the face of possible criminal proceedings. However Cape had secretly leased the rights to the Pegasus Press, an English-language publisher in France, and copies were being produced by the end of September 1928. Some copies however were being sent back to the UK leading to an obscenity trial which began on November 9th 1928, leading to it being banned as obscene, and upheld on appeal. Several editions were printed outside of the UK during the following years, including the example here by The Obelisk Press, under the ownership of the British-born publisher Jack Kahane, which was printed in Paris in 1933. It notes on the cover that “This edition cannot be bought in England or U.S.A.”, and this remained the case until the Falcon Press bought out an edition in the UK in 1949 with no legal challenge following. It has been in print and selling well ever since.
Price: 175 GBP
Location: Dorset
End Time: 2025-01-13T09:45:30.000Z
Shipping Cost: 22.33 GBP
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Return postage will be paid by: Buyer
Returns Accepted: Returns Accepted
After receiving the item, your buyer should cancel the purchase within: 30 days
Return policy details: If you are note entirely happy with your purchase, I will refund the cost of the item for a period of two weeks after receipt by the buyer, provided it is returned in the same condition as sent.
Year Printed: 1933
Country/Region of Manufacture: France
Fiction Subject: Lesbianism
Binding: Softback
Original/Reproduction: Original
Author: Radclyffe Hall
Original/Facsimile: Original
Language: English
Publisher: The Obelisk Press
Place of Publication: Paris
