TITLE: Lolita
VOLUME: 1 and 2
AUTHOR: Vladimir Nabokov
PUBLISHER: The Olympia Press
PLACE: Paris
YEAR: 1955
NO.OF PAGES: 192, 224
BINDING: Paperback enclosed in a customised Solander box measuring 19 x 13.5 x 4.5 cm
SIZE:
Height: 17 cm
Width: 10.7 cm
Depth: 1.3 cm

Vol. 1: pp. [i,ii] blank. p. [1] LOLITA, reverse blank. p. [3] title, as above. p. [4] All rights reserved in all countries. | Copyright 1955 by V. Nabokov and The Olympia Press. p. [5], PART ONE, reverse blank. pp. 7-10, Foreword by John Ray, Jr. PhD [numeration skips pp. 11-12.] pp. 13-188, text. p. [189] blank. p. [190] PRINTED IN FRANCE | [rule] |Printed in August 1955 by S.I.P., Montreuil, France | Depot legal: 3e 1955.

Vol. 2: pp. [i,ii] blank. p. [1] LOLITA, reverse blank. p. [3] title, as above. p. [4] All rights reserved in all countries. | Copyright 1955 by V. Nabokov and The Olympia Press. p. [5], PART TWO, reverse blank. pp. 9-223, text. p. [224] PRINTED IN FRANCE | [rule] |Printed in August 1955 by S.I.P., Montreuil, France | Depot legal: 3e 1955.

Lolita is a novel by Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977). The first edition of this work was published in 1955 by Olympia Press, Paris. The first American edition was published in 1958 by Putnam, New York, and the first British edition in 1959 by Weidenfeld and Nicolson.

The novel came about as a result of Nabokov's desire to experiment with the English language, to see if he could use wordplay and linguistic complexity in a language other than Russian. He also chose a deliberately difficult subject, according to him very remote from his own emotional life, to test his talent to breathe life into the subject.

The first publications of Lolita by Olympia, Paris, was full of errors and received no substantial reviews until Graham Greene praised it and provoked a response from many who took offence at its subject matter, calling it pornographic. It was subsequently banned in the UK and copies of the first edition seized by the Home Office. Its 1959 publication by Weidenfeld and Nicolson caused a scandal and cost Nicolson a political career. The American publication of 1958 was a huge success.

The novel remains controversial to this day, particularly in the light of greater awareness of the damage of sexual abuse of children. Lolita is, however, considered among the best English language novels of the 20th century.

Plot, Characters, Themes
The protagonist Humbert Humbert possesses an obsessive passion for young girls, whom he terms 'nymphets'. He meets the twelve-year-old Dolores Haze, or Lolita, and becomes infatuated with her. He marries her mother to be near her. Her mother discovered his secret passion by reading his diary, and plans to reveal him, but gets hit by a car and killed. Humbert takes charge of Lolita and attempts to molest her, but she surprises him by the fact of being sexually experienced. They begin an affair, driving around America for a year. They then settle down and Lolita goes to school, while Humbert grows incredibly jealous and forbids her from seeing boys. Lolita runs away with another older man. Two years later Humbert receives a letter from a 17-year-old Lolita who is married and pregnant. He goes to her and gives her money, asks her to leave her husband for him, and she refuses. Humbert finds and shoots the man who took Lolita away two years earlier, who intended to make her star in a porn film. He is then arrested for driving on the wrong side of the road and then dies after writing this memoir, to be published after his and Lolita's deaths.

The erotic motifs in the novel are what makes it so controversial, as well as the protagonist's attempt to present himself as sympathetically as possible. He is an exceedingly unreliable narrator, due to this desire to present himself in the best light, and so his account cannot be entirely trusted.

Author
Vladimir Nabokov was a Russian writer who delighted in experimenting with language, both Russian and English.

Nabokov wrote novels, poetry and short stories. His first nine novels were in Russian, but it was his publication of English prose that won him international acclaim. He is known for his love of subtle and dexterous linguistic play, and descriptions of sensory perception.

Notable auction sales
While the first edition (1955, Olympia Press, Paris) is very valuable, surprisingly the first American edition (Putnam, 1958) and the first British edition (Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1959) are also very sought-after. The controversy surrounding the novel's publication is interesting to collectors, and the true first edition was littered with inaccuracies and typographic errors.
Lolita first editions are much more valuable when signed or inscribed by the author. Lepidoptery enthusiast Nabokov often added little drawings of butterflies to his inscriptions, which make them all the more personal and collectable.
.br.Past Book auction results
Bonhams
Strong Opinions (1973) inscribed with a signature and drawing of a butterfly. Sold for $3,172 in June 2011.
Lolita first edition (1955, Olympia Press, Paris), sold for $1,997 in March 2005.

Christie's
Lolita first edition (1955), inscribed to Graham Greene with a butterfly, sold for $273,500 in October 2002.
Lolita first American edition (1958, Putnam, New York), inscribed with a butterfly, sold for $163,500 in October 2002.
Ada first edition (1969), Nabokov's annotated copy, sold for $119,500 in October 2002.
Lolita first English edition (1959, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London), inscribed to Graham Greene sold for $119,500 in October 2002.
Conclusive Evidence first edition (1951), sold for $89,625 in October 2002.
Pale Fire first edition, dedication copy to Nabokov's wife with a butterfly, sold for $77,675 in October 2002.
Despair first edition in English (1937) with rare dust jacket, sold for $28,800 in June 2007.

Sotheby's
Conclusive Evidence first edition, presentation copy inscribed with butterfly, sold for 14,400 pounds in June 2007.
Stikhi (poems) limited edition (1916), sold for 9,275 pounds in June 2009.

Documents, Autographs etc.br.Bonhams
A contract for a musical version of Lolita, signed by Nabokov, 1970. Sold for $4,270 in April 2011.

Christie's
Handwritten manuscript of The Original of Laura on index cards. Sold for 78,050 pounds in November 2010.

CONDITION:
This lot will be sold in "as is" condition.
There may be some minor tears/creases scratches, or holes commensurate with age that may not be visible in the images.

The books on sale in this auction are rare, out-of-print and otherwise collectable, dating from the 19th century onwards. The technology and material for printing and binding books have evolved over the last few centuries. From being the exclusive preserve of Clergy and Kings to an item of everyday application, the availability and use of books have also evolved over time. Books age over time and deterioration in a book's condition depends on many factors, including the original materials used and conditions of usage over time. Books will often show signs of foxing, fading, shelf-ware or dust jacket damage through usage. Prolonged storage may also cause wormhole damage or water stains.

The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of ageing. Condition requests can be obtained via email. Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Storyltd shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.