The Well of Loneliness - 1st issue: with an Appreciation by Havelock Ellis

The Well of Loneliness (1928) was the first modern novel to describe the feelings and desires of a member of the third sex. Based in part on the author, Radclyffe Hall's own experiences – a female whom had relationships with woman, but dressed as a male and was known as "John", it concerned Stephen a girl who is a lesbian, but brought up as a boy. Hall was known in London literary circles and was published to some acclaim by Jonathan Cape. However, in August 1928 the Home Secretary – a Christian fundamentalist – was persuaded that the book was profane. He banned the book from sale. Cape made secret arrangements with a French publisher, Pegasus Press, for the book to be sold in France. But on 3 October a warrant was issued for Customs and Excise to seize and destroy the books crossing the channel. An obscenity trial followed on 9 November and found that that all books be destroyed. He ban was not lifted until 1950 and has been in print ever since. TWOL is an iconic book for the LGBTQ movement.

This copy was issued by the Pegasus Press as stated on the dust jacket. The binding is dark green leather with only the title and author on the spine affixed by a label. The top edge is stained black and the sheets uncut. The sheets are the first printing with the error "whip" instead of "whips" (p. 50). An ink inscription reads "To Patricia, with love, yours, …." The book is in good order about Very Good. The jacket has some internal repairs, chips and tears. Jacked copies of the first printing are very scarce in any condition. Swan Gallery's sold a copy of the first issue Cape 1928 edition in a jacket for $3250 USD.