The third issue of the Ulysses first edition comprises copies numbered 251 through 1,000,, printed on handmade paper and bound in the publisher’s distinctive blue printed wrappers. Of the three issues, this is the most frequently encountered at auction — yet even so, fine copies with intact spines and unfaded covers are genuinely scarce.
Identification
The key points of issue for this edition are:
- Wrappers: Blue printed wrappers with the title “ULYSSES” in white on the upper cover and the Shakespeare and Company imprint below.
- Limitation page: States the copy number (between 251 and 1000).
- Cancel leaves: Present at chapters 6 (p. 93) and 17 (p. 649). These corrected leaves are integral to all genuine first-printing copies.
- Errata leaf: A single leaf of errata, printed on one side, is inserted before the colophon.
- Paper: Handmade paper, slightly cream-toned, with visible chain lines.
Condition Notes
The blue wrappers are notoriously fragile. Spine darkening and joint wear are the most common faults. Copies with professionally conserved spines (rebacked) trade at roughly 30–40% below comparable unrestored examples.