Florence: Privately Printed, 1928. First edition. First edition, number 66 of 1,000 copies signed by Lawrence, a superb example in the uncommon jacket. Original mauve paper covered boards, printed spine label (extremely bright), Lawrence's phoenix device blocked in black on front cover, untrimmed and completely unopened. With the unprinted cream dust jacket. Two small tears on the rear panel closed with tape from the verso, otherwise unrestored and in exceptional condition. Slight bit of foxing at the top fore-edge of the text block, also affecting the jacket slightly near the upper flap corners. Overall a Fine example of the book in very Nearly Fine dust jacket.

"The publication (for subscribers) of the final version of Lady Chatterley's Lover--written in the astonishing time of just five weeks, in one of Lawrence's last great bursts of creative energy--also sustained him, as he overcame the difficulties lying in the way of an individual publishing and distributing his own book. With the help of the Florentine bookseller Pino Orioli, the handsome volume was printed in and distributed from Florence, and made Lawrence more money than he had very imagined" (ODNB). The unexpurgated text was not published in the UK until 1960, as the book was considered obscene for its honest depictions of post-war injuries and impotence, domestic unhappiness, and one woman's pursuit and fulfillment of her sexual desires outside of marriage.

Roberts & Poplawski A42a (not mentioning the existence of the dust jacket). Fine in Near Fine dust jacket. (Item #8255)