Orlando by Virginia Woolf

WOOLF, Virginia. Orlando: A Biography. New York, Crosby Gaige, 1928.

First edition, first printing of Woolf’s fictional biography and experimental novel: one of the original 800 copies signed by the author.

One of Virginia Woolf’s major achievements, ‘Orlando mocks the conventions of biography and history, teases the pretensions of contemporary men of letters, and wryly examines sexual double standards’ (Whitworth). The book, inspired by and dedicated to Woolf’s friend and lover Vita Sackville-West, has been described as ‘the longest and most charming love-letter in literature’.

Orlando was first published in New York in a limited edition of 861 numbered copies, of which 800 were signed by the author. The present copy, number 352, bears Virginia Woolf’s signature in her characteristic purple ink on the verso of the half-title.

Octavo, pp. 333; frontispiece and seven half-tone photographic illustrations, including 3 of Vita Sackville-West as Orlando; a very good copy, in the original black cloth, spine lettered and decorated in gilt, publisher’s device to front cover in gilt, top edge gilt, others untrimmed, and with the original, very rare, black glassine (glassine lacking, especially at spine); contemporary bookseller’s ticket ‘The Holliday Bookshop … New York’ to rear pastedown.