Holiday 2020 Catalogue

19 H o l i d a y 2 0 2 0 Signed By Both James Joyce And Matisse 16. JOYCE, James and MATISSE, Henri, illustrator. Ulysses. New York, 1935. Large quarto, original gilt-stamped brown cloth, custom chemise and clamshell box. $35,000. First illustrated edition of Joyce’s landmark Ulysses, one of only 250 copies (from a total edition of 1500) signed by both James Joyce and Henri Matisse. One of the 20th-century’s most desirable illustrated books, combining the work of two great modern artists. A fine copy. One of the most arresting and intriguing collaborations in 20th-century literature. “It was a great idea to bring them together; celebrities of the same generation, of similar virtuosity” (Wheeler, 15). The 26 beautiful full-page illustrations by Matisse accompany the text of Joyce’s Ulysses , including six soft-ground etchings with reproductions of the sketches on blue and yellow paper. “One of the very few American livres de peintres issued before World War II. According to George Macy [this work’s designer], who undertook this only American publication of Matisse’s illustrations, he asked the artist howmany etchings the latter could provide for $5000. The artist chose to take six subjects from Homer’s Odyssey . The preparatory drawings reproduced with the soft-ground etchings (Matisse’s only use of this medium) record the evolution of the figures from vigorous sketches to closely knit compositions” ( Artist and the Book 197). Without original cardboard slipcase. A fine double-signed copy. “Christmas turkeys and geese… Eat, drink and be merry.”