![[NABOKOV]. NABOKOFF-SIRIN, Vladimir. Despair. London: John Long, 1937. 8o. Original black cloth, gilt (edges spotted, tail of spine very slightly rubbed); dust jacket (front panel lacks a 27 x 55 mm. triangular portion affecting "pair" in the jacket title, short chips at top of jacket spine panel, rear panel with three small ink spots, verso lightly foxed), but withal FIRST EDITION AND ONE OF ONLY THREE COPIES KNOWN IN JACKET of what is perhaps the scarcest of the author's titles and his first "serious attempt to use English for what may loosely be termed an artistic purpose". (Nabokov translated the novel himself and the preceding quote is taken from his introduction to the 1966 New York edition.)](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2001/NYE/2001_NYE_08553_0159_000(024503).jpg?w=1)
Details
[NABOKOV]. NABOKOFF-SIRIN, Vladimir. Despair. London: John Long, 1937. 8o. Original black cloth, gilt (edges spotted, tail of spine very slightly rubbed); dust jacket (front panel lacks a 27 x 55 mm. triangular portion affecting "pair" in the jacket title, short chips at top of jacket spine panel, rear panel with three small ink spots, verso lightly foxed), but withal FIRST EDITION AND ONE OF ONLY THREE COPIES KNOWN IN JACKET of what is perhaps the scarcest of the author's titles and his first "serious attempt to use English for what may loosely be termed an artistic purpose". (Nabokov translated the novel himself and the preceding quote is taken from his introduction to the 1966 New York edition.)
Unfortunately the book sold very poorly with most of the publisher's stock remaining in a warehouse until destroyed by German bombing during the war. Thus, even copies without a jacket are by no means common. Only one other copy in jacket has appeared at auction in the last 20 years. Juliar A15.2.
Unfortunately the book sold very poorly with most of the publisher's stock remaining in a warehouse until destroyed by German bombing during the war. Thus, even copies without a jacket are by no means common. Only one other copy in jacket has appeared at auction in the last 20 years. Juliar A15.2.