WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR Saturday 6 May 2017 at 10am

THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR · 6 MAY 2017 AT 10AM

Books

641

James Joyce The Day of the Rabblement

Joyce’s first published essay and only the second of any of his published works. A critique of the overt

nationalism and perceived provincialism of the Irish Literary Theatre, Joyce’s essay was originally

commissioned by the editor of St Stephen’s magazine, but subsequently rejected by the

censor on account of its mentioning a novel by Gabriel D’annunzio, Il Fuco (1900), which was banned by

the Vatican.

Privately published in 1901 by Joyce and F. J. C. Skeffington, whose similarly censored essay on women’s

education, ‘A Forgotten Aspect of the University Question’, is also contained herein. Joyce and Skeffington

arranged for their essays to be printed together in pamphlet form by Gerrard Bros. The exact quantity

printed is unknown. Skeffington’s son believed it to be in the region of 100 to 200, but in A Catalogue

of Rare Books published in 1933 by the Ulysses Bookshop, New York, it was stated definitively that only

85 copies were printed. Handsomely presented in a green cloth folding box with matching slipcase of

half calf, lettered in gilt and with raised bands. Handsomely presented in a green cloth folding box with

matching slipcase of half calf, lettered in gilt and with raised bands.

21 by 14in. (53.3 by 35.6cm)

Provenance:

Cathach Books, Dublin; Whyte’s, 5 April 2008, lot 126; Whence purchased by the present owner

Literature:

John J. Slocum and Hervert Cahoon, A Bibliography of James

Joyce (1882-1941), Greenwood Press, Westport, CT, 1971, B1, pp. 71-3

Fine in original pink wrappers; some trivial staining from staples at spine,

else perfect condition.

Estimate €6000-€8000 (approx £5100-£6800)