LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER

New York: Grove Press, Inc., 1960. Hardcover. Very Good/Good. A copy of the first American edition of this now classic novel by British author, D.H. Lawrence. Originally published in Italy in 1928 and the following year in Australia and France, the book was banned in the U.S. until it was ruled not obscene by the U.S. Court of Appeals in 1959 along with "Fanny Hill" and "Tropic of Cancer" in an opinion that established the concept of "redeeming social value." While it is an erotic romance novel, it is also a story of English class conflict. First American edition. About 5 3/4 x 8 1/4 inches, 368 pages including a bibliographical note and with a letter/preface to the publisher by Archibald MacLeish and an introduction by Mark Schorer. Bound in cream-color cloth boards with title and author in black letters on spine. The dustjacket's graphic design by Bruce Barton shows a light green front panel with author and title in black lettering and "in its original unexpurgated edition" in white. On spine, author's name is in blue. Back panel contains blurbs praising the novel from Jacques Barzun, Edmund Wilson and Harvey Breit. A small sticker and used-book price in upper corner of fep, o/w boards and text are complete and unmarked. Text shows lightly soiled edge and occasional soiling on individual pages. No tears, scratches, bumped corners or other noticeable flaws or damage. Price-clipped dustjacket shows moderate amount of wear, especially at edges and spine ends with several large chips missing and numerous small tears. That said, the dj is 90% whole with the graphic design and all its lettering still intact and now protected by Brodart cover. A small piece of literary history or simply a reading/study copy -- your choice. Also the basis for several movies and television films.