Gallimard | Paris 1959 | 14,5 x 21 cm | original wrappers under custom box and outer paper flap folder
First edition of the French translation, one of 86 numbered copies on pur fil paper, the only
grand papier (deluxe) copies.
Our copy is housed in a black decorated custom clamshell case, square spine with the author's name and title in red and pink respectively, first panel decorated with a white spotted motif reminiscent of Lolita's scarf, title printed in red, with the quote "Mon péché, mon âme" (
My sin, my soul) at foot, repeated twice in red and pink, panel hollowed in its center and filled with a plexiglass medallion framed by a white spotted motif reminiscent of Lolita's scarf, the second panel bears the words "Humbert" repeated three times in red and pink, followed by "Lumière de ma vie, feu de mes reins" (
light of my life, fire of my loins) repeated twice in red and pink and the title "Lo lii ta" in pink, all on either side of Humbert's silhouette stamped in pink, inside lined with pink paper; case housed in a white paper flap folder, black spine with author's name and title in red and pink respectively, decorated with a white spotted motif reminiscent of Lolita's scarf; wonderful work by artist Julie Nadot.