Lolita

by Nabokov, Vladimir

Lolita is widely regarded as one of the greatest books of the 20th Century. The cultural influence of Lolita cannot be understated, and numerous editions have been printed since 1955. The book has been made into movies, plays, and has sparked countless conversations about relationships and the nature of obsession. Even the covers of the later editions have sparked controversy, as they feature potentially suggestive depictions of the famous "nymphet". Unsurprisingly, Lolita is often at the top of banned books lists in high schools.

First Edition Identification

Even though Vladimir Nabokov originally wrote the book in English in the United States, he could find no American publishers to accept the manuscript. Nabokov eventually found Olympia Press publishing house in France, and the 1955 first printing of about 5,000 copies sold out fairly quickly. The book was first published as green hardcovers in two volumes, with the price of "Francs : 900" stamped on back wrappers of each copy. Most later editions were printed as paperbacks with both volumes in one book. Due to the infamous subject matter of the book, Lolita was quickly banned in much of Europe, but was finally published in the United States in 1958. The American edition found a receptive audience, as it became the first book after Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind to sell 100,000 copies in just three weeks. -

Reviews

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On Aug 26, 2014, Anonymous said
Vladimir Nabokov's postmodern masterpiece about a man's obsession with a young girl is nothing short of remarkable. Not only does Nabokov situate the story within the context of Cold War America, but he has the ability to make the reader sympathise with an otherwise immoral character. Through Nabokov's lyrical, poetic and deceptive writing, the story becomes at once comical and poignant. Underneath all the amusing and colourful metaphors and allusions to American popular culture is a deeply affecting story about obsession, innocence and unrequited love. As with Jack Kerouac's On The Road, the theme of 'the journey' is strongly emphasised throughout, as the lead character descends deeper into madness as he and his step-daughter travel around America. A cult classic and must-read, Lolita is the work of genius.

Available Copies

Lolita

Lolita

by NABOKOV, Vladimir

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Jacket Condition
Very Good
Published
1955
Binding
Hardcover
Quantity Available
1
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Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA
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A$3,092.60

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(Jerusalem: Printed in Israel for The Olympia Press by Steimatzky's Agency, 1955. Hardcover. Near Fine/Very Good. First Israeli edition, and the first hardcover edition (there was also a wrappered issue of the Israeli edition). Two volumes in one. Original blue leather-textured papercovered boards in dustwrapper. Offsetting to the front and rear endpapers as usual, small and light stain… Read more about this item
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A$3,092.60
Lolita (Penguin Classics)

Lolita (Penguin Classics)

by Nabokov, Vladimir

Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0140188223
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1
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Paperback. Acceptable.
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Lolita.

Lolita.

by Nabokov, Vladimir

Condition
Used
Published
1955
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1
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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A$8,504.65

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Paris: The Olympia Press, 1955. First edition of Nabokov's masterpiece, published in Paris by the Olympia Press in 1955. First issue with the price of 900 francs on the rear panel of each volume. Octavo, 2 volumes, original green wrappers. In very good condition with light rubbing, some toning to the extremities. Ownership names and newspaper clipping tipped in.… Read more about this item
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A$8,504.65
Lolita.

Lolita.

by Nabokov, Vladimir

Condition
Used
Published
1955
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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A$2,319.45

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New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1955. First American edition and first trade edition of Nabokov's masterpiece. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt inner dentelles stamp-signed by the Harcourt Bindery, marbled endpapers, all… Read more about this item
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A$2,319.45
Lolita

Lolita

by Vladimir Nabokov

Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0140264078
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1
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Paperback. Very Good.
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A$3.99
Lolita

Lolita

by Vladimir Nabokov

Condition
New
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0679723161
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1
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
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Paperback. New.
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Lolita
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Lolita

by Nabokov, Vladimir

Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
Second Printing
Published
1958
Binding
Paperback
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1
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Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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Paris: The Olympia Press, 1958. Second Printing, November 1958 stated. Publisher's original green wrappers, priced at 2400 Francs. No. 66 in the Traveller's Companion Series. Two volumes, Very Good, wear to bottom of Vol. II at bottom of spine with some paper loss and curling. light edgewear. Vol. I with 1 page top corner creased. Basis for Stanley Kubrick's 1962… Read more about this item
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A$773.15
Lolita

Lolita

by Vladimir Nabokov

Condition
Used - VG
Edition
Second printing
Published
1959
Binding
Soft
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1
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United States, Arkansas, USA
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A$201.02

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Scarce Edition 1959 Crest Giant , Fawcett Publications
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A$201.02
Lolita (Volume One)

Lolita (Volume One)

by NABOKOV, Vladimir

Condition
Used - Good
Published
1955
Binding
Softcover
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1
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Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA
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Paris: The Olympia Press, 1955. Softcover. Good. First edition. Volume One only. Printed wrappers with "Francs 900" on the rear panel. Dampstains on pages, textblock and rear wrap rippled, a couple of tiny chips at the bottom of wraps, good only. The true first edition of one of the highspots of modern literature. Nabokov wrote the screenplay for… Read more about this item
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A$1,314.36
Lolita (Two Volume Edition)
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Lolita (Two Volume Edition)

by Nabokov, Vladimir

Condition
Used - Very Good
Published
1959
Binding
Mass Market Paperback
Quantity Available
1
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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A$606.15

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Paris: Olympia Press / Traveller's Companion Series, 1959. Mass Market Paperback. Very Good. Fourth printing of the two volume Traveller's Companion Series No. 66 edition. Original price of 2,400 francs on back covers. Green paperbacks with slight wear to corners and edges of covers. White blemishes from sticker removal on front of Volume One… Read more about this item
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Lolita
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Lolita

by Vladimir Nabokov

Condition
Used
Edition
First Edition
Published
1955
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Mississauga, Ontario, CAN
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A$3,092.60

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New York: Putnam, 1955. First Edition . Hardcover. First Edition/First Printing. Hardcover. Fine book in a Fine Dust Jacket. Slight wear to the jacket edge and light toning to the spine panel..
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A$3,092.60
Lolita.

Lolita.

by Nabokov, Vladimir

Condition
Used
Published
1955
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1
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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A$38,657.50

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New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1955. First edition, early impression of Nabokov's lyrical masterwork. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by Vladimir Nabokov on the half-title page with an additional drawing of a butterfly. An accomplished lepidopterist, Nabokov only included butterfly drawings in books presented to those especially important to him. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust… Read more about this item
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A$38,657.50
Lolita
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Lolita

by Vladimir Nabokov

Condition
Used - Very Good+
Jacket Condition
Fine-
Edition
First UK Edition
Published
1959
Binding
Hardcover in Dust Jacket
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1
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Oakland, California, USA
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A$734.49

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Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov Hardcover First UK Edition - First Printing London: Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1959. 21s original cover price. Modern Library ranked Lolita as the 4th most important novel of the 20th century. Lolita has a strange publishing history. It was first published in two paperbacks by The Olympia Press in Paris in 1955, most near fine or better copies… Read more about this item
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A$734.49
Lolita

Lolita

by Vladimir Nabokov

Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0140264078
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1
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Paperback. Good.
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A$3.99
Lolita (Penguin Classics)

Lolita (Penguin Classics)

by Vladimir Nabokov

Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0141182539
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1
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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A$12.22

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Paperback. Very Good.
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A$12.22
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Lolita

by Nabokov, Vladimir

Condition
New
ISBN 10
0679723161
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1
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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New. .
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A$32.44
Lolita.

Lolita.

by Nabokov, Vladimir

Condition
Used
Published
1959
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1
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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A$773.15

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London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1959. First British edition of Nabokov's masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket designed by Eric Ayers. A very sharp example. One of the most celebrated books in history, Nabokov's Lolita quickly attained classic status upon publication in 1955. Notable for its controversial subject, the novel was adapted into… Read more about this item
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A$773.15
Lolita (Penguin Classics)

Lolita (Penguin Classics)

by Vladimir Nabokov

Condition
Used - Acceptable
Binding
Paperback
ISBN 10
0141182539
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1
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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Paperback. Acceptable.
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Lolita
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Lolita

by Nabokov, Vladimir [Vladimirovich]

Condition
Used - Fine
Jacket Condition
Near Fine
Edition
1st Edition
Published
1958
Binding
Hardcover
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1
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Las Vegas , Nevada, USA
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A$5,412.05

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New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1958 First printing of the first American edition, with 1955 as the publication date: black cloth-backed gray patterned boards, spine lettered in gilt, with the red endpapers, and red top-stain, in original first issue jacket without the "Complete Unexpurgated Edition" statement on the front panel and with the original price of $5.00 listed on… Read more about this item
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A$5,412.05
Lolita (Two Volume Edition)

Lolita (Two Volume Edition)

by Nabokov, Vladimir

Condition
Used - Near Fine
Published
1959
Binding
Mass Market Paperback
Quantity Available
1
Seller
Seattle, Washington, USA
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A$692.74

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Paris: Olympia Press / Traveller's Companion Series, 1959. Mass Market Paperback. Near Fine. Fourth printing of the two volume Traveller's Companion Series No. 66 edition. Original price of 2,400 francs on back covers. Green paperbacks with slight wear to corners and edges of covers. Interior pages clean and bright. Includes ""Publisher's Digression""… Read more about this item
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A$692.74