Paris 4/11/39.' Each book is housed in a red cloth solander (clamshell) box with gilt titles and line with marbled paper. Inscribed by the author to the title page: 'To Audrey from Henry who is now the other side of the Equator, preparing to write 'Draco and the Ecliptic'. Publisher's original pale green wrappers printed in dark green, 318pp. Tropic of Cancer, 1938 First Edition, Third Printing as stated on the title page and the spine, with 60 francs print on the front flap. Eventually, all variants were officially released on 10th May 1939. During this period Obelisk received more than 800 pre-orders and so another batch of 3,000 copies was printed with adjustments made to the price. The Imprimerie Georges Frere had printed 1,00 copies but Miller, who was solely responsible for proofreading and correcting proofs, had not given his approval to begin printing, hence there was a delay while the errata slip was created and applied to the books.

Inscribed and SIGNED by the author, to the front free endpaper, prior to publication: 'To Audrey Beecham from her well-wisher, Henry Miller 5/5/39.' Although the verso of the half title page states 'First Published February 1939', the book was not published until 10th May 1939. Publisher's original wrappers printed in red and white and black titles to front panel and spine, 367pp. First Black Cat edition, Fouruth printing.Tropic of Capricorn, 1939, First Edition, First Issue with 60 FRS printed on the spine, 60 francs printed on the front flap and yellow errata slip tipped in. Near fine(+) unread copy of the massmarket paperback edition minor edge-wear. The novel was subsequently banned in the UK and the USA and not released for publication for a further thirty years.' - Contents: Night people - The secret life of insects - The ballad of Easy Earl - The crime of Marble Lesson. Tropic of Cancer's 1934 publication in France was hailed by Samuel Beckett as 'a momentous event in the history of modern writing'.

A fictional account of Miller's adventures amongst the prostitutes and pimps, the penniless painters and writers of Montparnasse, Tropic of Cancer is an extravagant and rhapsodic hymn to a world of unrivalled eroticism and freedom.

Leaving behind a disintegrating marriage and an unhappy career in America, he threw himself into the low-life of bohemian Paris with unwavering gusto. A penniless and as yet unpublished writer, Henry Miller arrived in Paris in 1930. 'A stream-of-consciousness story of a poverty-stricken young American, living in Paris.' - 'Miller's groundbreaking first novel, banned in Britain for almost thirty years.

Dark blue octavo pocket book, xxvii, 287 pages 18cm.

Tropic of cancer book cover