First edition, number 36 of 176 copies on handmade paper. Large quarto (318 x257 mm). Author's presentation copy inscribed by the author to Eugene and Maria Jolas on the initial blank: "To his kind editors Eugene & Maria Jolas from James Joyce Paris 31 March 1938". Contemporary three-quarter red morocco by Bellevalle, spine lettered in gilt, decorated red paper boards and endpapers, original flexible orange vellum covers and spine bound in, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Illuminated capital letter by Lucia Joyce, marginal commentaries printed in red at the right of the page, in black at the left. Light rubbing to binding, a few small and widely scattered spots, an excellent copy retaining the original covers and uncut lower and fore edges. Housed in custom made chemise and quarter morocco clamshell box.

The American ex-pat couple Eugene and Maria Jolas had founded the literary journal, transition in Paris in 1927, with the first fifteen issues dominated by Joyce's work. Eugene Jolas was a fervent supporter of Joyce in his critical writings and transition provided a key publishing outlet during the protracted creation of the "Work in Progress" which ultimately became Finnegans Wake (Eugene was the first to correctly guess the official title in 1936, when Joyce offered a thousand francs to the first in his close circle who could do so). Maria Jolas was intimately involved with the editing of this constantly developing text, in which some critics claim she is an identifiable character-presence. Between them, the Jolas's played a pivotal role in the creation of the author's great modernist experiment.

Stock ID: 36014