LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER by Lawrence D. H - 1928

Florence: Privately printed, 1928. Early printing, a pirated edition. Tall 8vo, original black moire pattered cloth with a paper label on the spine printed in red and black. 365. A pleasing copy, the black cloth a bit mellowed on the spine, a touch of expected shelving.      THIS PIRATED EDITION WAS PRINTED JUST SHORTLY AFTER THE FIRST EDITION AND IS NEARLY IDENTICAL IN FORMAT TO THE TRUE FIRST. These unauthorized pirated editions that followed the printing of the first edition would induce Lawrence in 1929 to write the essay "My Skirmish With Jolly Roger," A tirade against the numerous pirated editions of his book, the bookshops that discretely distributed them and, incidentally, against those who suggested he should issue an expurgated edition. It was not until 1960 that Penguin Books in London took on the risk of publishing an authorized edition in full and they were consequently prosecuted under the Obscene Publications Act 1959. The later acquittal proved a victory for not only the eminent authors who appeared as witnesses at the celebrated trial (including E.M. Forster, R. Hoggart, and H. Gardner) and Penguin Books, but for writing and publishing in general.