ULYSSES ILLUSTRATED BY MATISSE. JOYCE, JAMES. 1882-1941. Ulysses ... with an Introduction by Stu...

ULYSSES ILLUSTRATED BY MATISSE. JOYCE, JAMES. 1882-1941. Ulysses ... with an Introduction by Stuart Gilbert and Illustrations by Henri Matisse. New York: Limited Editions Club, 1935. Large 4to. 6 etched plates by Matisse, 20 reproductions of Matisse's sketches printed on blue and yellow paper. Publisher's brown buckram with abstract design including Matisse's Nausicaa embossed in gold on the front cover, spine decorated in gilt, publisher's card slipcase, housed in custom quarter morocco clamshell box, slipcase soiled and rubbed, spine splitting; minor rubbing to cloth and gilt design on cover; very light, occasional spotting. A FINE COLLABORATION BETWEEN TWO OF THE GREAT LITERARY AND ARTISTIC FIGURES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, number 578 of 1500 copies signed by Matisse, and a masterpiece of 20th-century book design and illustration. Curiously, Matisse based his drawings on Homer's Odyssey, leading to speculation he never read the book he was supposed to illustrate. Reportedly, Joyce was so incensed that he stopped signing the edition, making the copies signed by both exceedingly rare. However, it's likely that the story is apocryphal, as the contract Joyce signed was to sign 250 copies, all that his poor eyesight would allow him to manage. The Artist and the Book 197; Slocum & Cahoon A22. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing