Memoirs of a Dead Life
New York: Boni and Liveright, 1920. From the Bart Auerbach Collection. 8vo. Original faux-vellum backed blue boards, leather spine label, unopened; plain blue dust jacket lettered in grey on spine; quarter morocco slipcase. Provenance: sold Christie's New York, 15 October 1997, lot 278. Slight fraying at top of spine and a forecorner of jacket. Item #409199
Second American ("Author's") edition, revised and expanded, limited to 1500 numbered copies (this no. 154). The dedication copy, inscribed by the author on a front flyleaf: "To T R Smith with many kind regards, George Moore, March 30th 1921. " Thomas Smith was the head editor at Boni and Liveright and a literary advisor to Moore at this time.; he had previously been the editor of the 'Century Magazine' and had acted as Moore's agent in America (see W. Gilmer, 'Horace Liveright', 1970, pp. 25 & 29). The printed dedication is in the form of a letter: "My writings languished in America before you took charge of them, and as a token of my indebtedness and gratitude I feel I should like to have your name on this book. A fine copy with an unique association of the earliest edition of 'Memoirs of My Dead Life', first published in 1906, to have a dedication. Gilcher A29b; Connolly, 'The Modern Movement', 17: "Here we hear the true voice of this neglected genius who, had we but patience, is still the best company for depressed insomniacs..." (BA).
Price: $2,500.00