Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita

First Edition

"Lolita, light of life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta." 

"I shall never regret Lolita. She was like the composition of a beautiful puzzle-- its composition and its solution at the same time. Of course she completely eclipsed my other works, but I cannot grudge her this. There is a queer, tender charm about that mythical nymphet."

Vladimir Nabokov, in 1964

NABOKOV, Vladimir. Lolita. Paris: Olympia Press, (1955). Octavo, original green paper wrappers. Two volumes.  $7000.

First edition of one of the most important novels of the twentieth-century. Controversial since its conception, Lolita was rejected by American publishing houses until finally accepted by the avant-garde Olympia Press in Paris and published in a fragile two-volume format. First issue, with printed price "Francs: 900" on rear wrapper. Only slight edgewear (much less than usual). A very desirable copy of a scarce and fragile book.