Joyce (James) A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, first English edition, English sheets, signed presentation inscription from the author "To Beatrice Randegger. James Joyce. 25 Novembre 1919. Trieste." to front free endpaper, browning to endpapers, original cloth, spine very slightly faded, spine ends and corners a little bumped with small chip to foot of spine, 2 small patches of cockling to upper cover, some light rubbing, but still an excellent example overall, [Slocum & Cahoon A13], 8vo, The Egoist Ltd., [1918].

⁂ Joyce's first novel with a near-contemporary presentation inscription. Inscribed copies of this or any edition are rare, especially so with a contemporary inscription.

While the publication of A Portrait of the Artist did not prove to be as troublesome as that of Dubliners (see previous lot), it nevertheless proved difficult to find an English publisher willing to undertake the novel. The novel therefore was first published in America, with the first English edition published using sheets printed in America. The present edition was the first to be both published and printed in England.

For the recipient, Beatrice Randegger neè Richetti, see previous lot. Joyce inscribed this copy during his brief return to Trieste following the war. It was not an especially happy period for Joyce - he struggled to strike up the same relationships he had left behind when he left 5 years ago and was working hard to finish Ulysses. Notably while Joyce resumed his position at the Scuola Superiore de Commercio Revoltella, he decided against recommencing his private lessons. That Randegger should seek out Joyce to inscribe her copy of A Portrait of the Artist so soon after his return to the city indicates that the former student and teacher maintained a degree of contact and mutual interest over a sustained period.

Provenance: By descent in the family.