Bessie Cotter

Smith, Wallace

Published by Covici Friede Publishers, 1934

About this Item

Wallace Smith is best known in Oregon as the illustrator of the Pendleton Round-Up poster (you know the one). However, he was also an author. This novel of a Chicago prostitute was published in England a year after the American edition, but was declared indecent & banned there. Later editions were printed in Paris by the Obelisk Press. This indecent ruling was despite the lifting of the ban on Ulysses in 1933 which generally indicated a loosening of such restrictions. Unlike the sexy cover of the 1950s pulp paperback reprint by Berkley, this cover art has just a subtle reference to the red-light content of the book. First edition. Fine in near fine jacket. Foxing to page edges, toning to endpapers; DJ has short closed tear & associated crease to bottom of rear panel. A stunning example of an exceedingly scarce book, important in the history of the suppression of modernist literature, and for being an early modern novel about a sex worker. Seller Inventory # 002659

Bibliographic Details

Title: Bessie Cotter

Publisher: Covici Friede Publishers

Publication Date: 1934

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Fine

Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine

Edition: 1st Edition.