Tropic of Capricorn

A21a 1939 FIRST OBELISK EDITION

Bright red and white wrappers. Yellow errata sheet bound in before title page.
Published on May 10, 1939, at 60 francs.
Note: First Edition, First State: White spine; Lettered in black: TROPIC / OF / CAPRICORN / [double rule] / HENRY / MILLER / 60 FRS / [publisher's device] / [double rule] / OBELISK PRESS / 16, Place Vendome / PARIS. This first state with printed flaps and with the prices on the two flaps and on the spine not overprinted.
First Edition, Second State: Follows spine description as above. This second state with printed flaps but with the prices on the flaps blocked out with a rubber stamp.
First Edition, Third State: Follows spine description as above. This third state without the printed flaps and with the price on the spine either blocked out or the new franc price overprinted (seen both ways). The front flap has a description of Capricorn and the old price, and the back flap lists a number of Obelisk Press books with the price, and for this reason was cut off, as the prices were wrong and possibly some of the books were no longer available.
Variant First Edition: White spine; Lettered in black: TROPIC / OF / CAPRICORN / [double rule] / OBELISK PRESS / 16, Place Vendome / PARIS. Presence or absence of flaps not determined.

A21b 1939 Now felt to be variation of A21a.

A21c 1939 FIRST SHANGHAI EDITION

Green buckram boards.
Published in 1939.
Note: Made from photo-offsets of Obelisk Press Ediion. The edition of Tropic of Capricorn was originally isssed in gray wrappers but copy seen had been privately rebound.

A21d 1945 SECOND OBELISK EDITION

Red wrappers. Yellow errata sheet proceeds title page. Edges trimmed.
Published in August 1945, at 175 francs, in an edition of 10,000 copies.
Note: This is the first post-war edition of Capricorn. It was printed from plates of the First Printing of February 1939, but used cheap paper.

A21e THIRD OBELISK EDITION

Brown wrappers
Published in 1945, at 175 francs.
Note: While alike in every other way including errata sheet, the wrapper color and colophon differs in this edition compared with the Third Edition.

A21f 1948 FIRST AMERICAN (PIRACY) EDITION

Red cloth boards with drawing of moon with face on spine. Clear wax paper wrapper.
Published in 1948.
Note: This first American piracy of Miller's Tropic of Capricorn was published in San Francisco by Henry and Jack Evans in 1948.
While the exact number of copies published is not known, Ben Abramson of the Argus Book Shop, Chicago, writing Miller on 10/29/48 said he was offered 3,000 unbound sheets of this printing from Henry Evans; however, the infrequency with which this edition appears in the antiquarian book market indicates that it is unlikely that anywhere near 3,000 copies of this title were bound and distributed.

A21g 1948 FIRST AMERICAN PAPERBACK EDITION

Thin black wrappers
Published in 1948.
Note: This book was apparently bound from the distressed sale of unbound sheets offered to several book dealers in 1948.

A21h 1948 FOURTH OBELISK EDITION

Olive green wrappers with red sunburst
Published on June 3, 1948, at 400 francs.

A21i 1949 FIFTH OBELISK EDITION

Olive green wrappers with red sun burst
Published on June 30, 1949, at 400 francs.

A21j 1950 SIXTH OBELISK EDITION

Olive green wrappers with red sunburst
Published on May 25, 1950, at 500 francs.

A21fff 1952 SEVENTH OBELISK EDITION

Olive green wrappers with red sunburst
Published in the second quarter of 1952, at 600 francs.

A21k 1952 VARIENT SEVENTH OBELISK EDITION

White wrappers *possible proof*
Published in the second trimester 1952, at 600 francs.

A21l 1953 FIRST KEIMEISHA EDITION

Red cloth boards. Lime green dust jacket with red sunburst
Published on December 25, 1953, at ¥1,200.

A21nnn 1953 EIGHTH OBELISK EDITION

Olive green wrappers with red sunburst
Published in the third quarter of 1953, at 600 francs.

A21ggg 1955 JAPANESE PIRACY

White wrappers
Published in 1955, at ¥1,000.
Note: The pagination numbers are not present on this edition which is of slightly larger size than the Obelisk Editions of 1952-1959

A21m 1956 SECOND KEIMEISHA EDITION

Red cloth boards. Lime green dust jacket with red sunburst
Published on March 25, 1956, at ¥700.

A21n 1956 NINTH OBELISK EDITION

Olive green wrappers with red sun-burst
Published on May 15, 1956, at 600 francs.

A21o 1957 VARIENT TENTH OBELISK EDITION

White wrappers *Possible proof*
Published on March 5, 1957, at 600 francs.

A21p 1957 TENTH OBELISK EDITION

Olive green wrappers with red sunburst
Published July 15, 1957, at 600 francs.

A21q 1958 ELEVENTH OBELISK EDITION

Olive green wrappers with red sunburst
Published on March 15, 1958, at 600 francs.

A21r 1959 TWELFTH OBELISK EDITION

Olive green wrappers with red sunburst
Published April 20, 1959, at 690 francs.

A21s 1959 THIRTEENTH OBELISK EDITION

Olive green wrappers with red sunburst
Published on October 15, 1959, at 690 francs.

A21hhh 1959 FIRST TAIWAN PIRACY

Brown cloth boards. Blue-green dust jacket with red sunburst
Published in 1959.
Note: Piracy of April 1959 Obelisk Edition

A21t 1959 SECOND TAIWAN PIRACY

Cream-yellow wrappers flecked with green fibers
Published in 1959.
Note: This pirated edition was produced by photo-offset from the April 20, 1959 Obelisk Press edition.

A21ooo 1960 FOURTEENTH OBELISK EDITION

White wrappers
Published on February 25, 1960.

A21u 1960 FIRST KEIMEISHA PAPERBACK EDITION

Yellow wrappers
Published on June 10, 1960, at ¥700.

A21v 1960 FIFTEENTH OBELISK EDITION

White wrappers
Published on October 10, 1960.

A21w 1961 SIXTEENTH OBELISK EDITION

White wrappers
Published on March 5, 1961.

A21x 1962 SECOND KEIMEISHA PAPERBACK EDITION

Yellow wrappers
Published on June 10, 1962, at ¥700.

A21y 1962 SEVENTEENTH OBELISK EDITION

White wrappers
Published on March 5, 1962, at 12,75 N.F.

A21z 1962 VARIANT SEVENTEENTH OBELISK EDITION

White slick finish wrappers
Published on March 5, 1962, at 12,75 N.F.
Note: Except for the slick finish wrapper and use of dark blue lettering, this edition is identical to the Seventeenth Obelisk Edition. A second copy was seen that has a revised price stamped on the back wrapper of "23,75."

A21aa 1962 FIRST GROVE PRESS EDITION

Green marbled paper boards. Gold jacket
Published on September 5, 1962, at $7.50.

A21bb 1962 THIRD TAIWAN PIRACY

Red cloth boards. Gold dust jacket
Published in 1962.
Note: This is a photo-offset duplication of the Grove Press First Edition of Tropic of Capricorn. Text and dust jacket are identical with the following differences: smaller leave measurement, thinner paper, different binding and the Grove Press name and address has been removed from the title page, something that is not routinely seen on other Taiwan piracies.

A21cc 1962 FOURTH TAIWAN PIRACY

Green cloth boards. Gold dust jacket
Published in 1962.

A21dd 1962 FIRST BOOKTHRIFT EDITION

Black textured vinyl boards. Gold dust jacket
Published in 1962.

A21ee 1963 FIRST GROVE PRESS PAPERBACK

Red wrappers #9112
1st Printing: Published in 1963 at 95¢, all edges stained green.
4th, 6th & 7th Printings: Published at 95¢, all edges stained green.

A21ff 1963 SECOND GROVE PRESS WRAPPER DESIGN

Red wrappers #59
Published in 1963, at 95¢.
Note: This redesigned wrapper deletes the phrase: "FIRST TIME IN PAPERBACK," as well as the tag "author or the sensational best seller / Tropic or Cancer." While uable to determine the exact date of publication for this later printing, it precedes the first Black Cat Edition [A21gg].

A21iii 1963 SAS PAPERBACK PIRACY

Red and white wrappers with white sunburst
Published in approximently 1963.

A21gg 1965 FIRST GROVE BLACK CAT / EVERGREEN EDITION

Red wrappers # BC - 59
8th - 12th Printings: Published at 95¢, all edges stained red.
Note: This Eighth Printing from Grove Press is the first to include the publisher's device [face of a black cat] on the title page, front wrapper and spine. Grove also recognized this as the first Evergreen Edition in the 1987 Edition.

A21hh 1963 MINAMI KAIKISEN
FIRST SERIES OF WORLD LITERATURE EDITION

Green cloth boards. Clear green plastic dust jacket
Published on March 15, 1963.
Note: In addition to Capricorn and an interpretative essay by Shigeo Tobita, this edition includes Edwin Corle's essay on Miller from The Smile at the Foot of the Ladder, "Aphorisms," from The Henry Miller Reader, and "The 100 Books That Influenced Me Most," from The Books in My Life.

A21ii 1964 FIRST CALDER EDITION

Gray paper boards. Red and white dust jacket
Published in February 1964.

A21jj 1964 VARIANT FIRST CALDER EDITION

Red paper boards. Red and white dust jacket
Published in February 1964, at 25 shillings.

A21kk 1965 MINAMI KAIKISEN
FIRST COLLECTED WORKS SERIES VOLUME 2 EDITION

Orange paper boards. Orange and black dust jacket
Published on June 15, 1965, at ¥500.

A21ll 1965 SECOND EVERGREEN EDITION

Note: The Publisher's Trade List Annual for 1965 lists a Grove Press Edition of Capricorn which was identified as an "Evergreen Edition" with a publisher's number "E-385." The issue price was listed as $2.45. This Edition was not seen and is not felt to have been done.

A21mm 1966 MINAMI KAIKISEN
FIRST KAWADE SHOBO EDITION

Red cloth boards. No dust jacket seen.
Published on April 15, 1966, at ¥420.

A21nn 1966 FIRST PANTHER / GRANADA PAPERBACK EDITION

Black wrappers with bright yellow circle with red horizontal rule cutting through it's lower third
Published in 1966 at 9/6.
1967 printing at 9/6
1969 printing
1970 printing at 50p
1971 printing at 50p
1973 printing at 60p
1975 printing
1978 printing
1981 printing at £1.95
1981 (second) printing at £1.95

A21oo 1967 TROPIQUE DU CAPRICORNE
FIRST EDITION DU CHENE EDITION

Pink wrappers
Published on November 16, 1967.
Note: This edition of Capricorne is unique in having a two page statement by Michael Fraenkel, dated 1930, serving as a Preface. There immediately follows a 2 1/2 page statement by Alfred Perlés which serves as an additional Préface. Perlés' contribution was originally written in 1947 and later published in the Bulletin de la «Guilde de Livre», May 1959.

A21pp 1970 FIRST CASTLE EDITION

Tan paper boards. Gold dust jacket
Published in 1970, at $7.50.

A21qq 1970 TROPIQUE DU CAPRICORNE FIRST CLUB DU LIVRE SELECTIONNE EDITION

Padded red leather boards. No dust jacket seen.
Published in 1970, in an edition of 3,000 copies.
Illustrations by Guy Descouens and Paulette Debraine.

A21rr 1972 FOURTH GROVE PAPERBACK DESIGN

White wrappers
13th Printing: Published in 1972, at 95¢, all edges stained red.
14th Printing: Published at 95¢, all edges stained lavender.
16th Printing: Published at $1.45, all edges stained purple.
17th Printing: Published in January 1974, at $1.95.
18th Printing: Published in December 1974, at $1.95.
19th Printing: Published in October 1976, at $1.95.

A21ss 1973 FIRST LITERARY GUILD BOOK CLUB EDITION

Black cloth boards. No dust jacket seen.
Published in April 1973, at $7.95, in a three volume set.
Note: Capricorn was offered by the Literary Guild Book Club in a three volume set along with Cancer and Black Spring. This edition has been seen in a natural finish black cloth and in a coated black cloth which has a slick finish that gives off a definite sheen when light is reflected upon it.

A21tt 1973 FIRST BOOK CLUB EDITION

Gray leather grained paper boards. No dust jacket seen.
Published in 1973.
Note: During 1973, this book club edition of Capricorn was published in a three volume set along with Cancer and Black Spring.

A21uu 1973 FIRST BALLANTINE EDITION

Orange paper wrappers
Published in August 1973, at $1.95.
Also Canadian Printing August 1973, at $1.95

A21vv 1974 TROPIQUE DU CAPRICORNE
FIRST CLUB POUR VOUS–HACHETTE EDITION

Dark red cloth boards. Black, white and flesh colored dust jacket with a photograph of stripper in a night club.
Published on November 6, 1974.
Note: This edition contains a three page préface, "REGARD SUR CAPRICORNE" written by Henry Miller which is dated January 29, 1972.

A21ww 1974 SECOND BALLANTINE WRAPPER DESIGN

White and yellow wrappers
Published in December 1974 (second printing), at $1.95.
Published in December 1976, (third printing) at $1.95.

A21xxa 1975 SECOND EVERGREEN EDITION

Gold wrappers
Published in 1975, at $4.95.

A21xxb 1975 VARIENT SECOND EVERGREEN EDITION

Gold wrappers
Published in 1975 or later.
Note: This differs from A21xxa by not having the price on the front cover.

A21yy 1978 FIFTH GROVE WRAPPER DESIGN

Forest green wrappers #B-59
20th Printing: Published in 1978, at $1.95.
23rd Printing: Published in 1981, at $3.50.
24th Printing: Published at $3.95.
25th Printing: Published at $4.95.
Note: This Twentieth Printing has a completely redesigned wrapper. In 1981 Grove Press issued copies of this edition along with Tropic of Cancer and Black Spring as a trilogy in a slip case. Issue price was $7.40.

A21zz 1978 TROPIQUE DU CAPRICORNE
FIRST FAMOT EDITION

Note: This edition, which has not been seen, included a preface by Lawrence Durrell and illustrations by Moretti.

A21aaa 1981 TROPIQUE DU CAPRICORNE
FIRST CHENE / STOCK EDITION

Red wrappers
Published in the second trimester of 1981.
Note: This paperback edition contains a three page préface, "REGARD SUR CAPRICORNE" written by Henry Miller which is dated January 29, 1972.

A21jjj 1982 FIRST BOOK ASSOCIATES EDITION

Forest green cloth boards. Light green dust jacket
Published in 1982. Also in 1984 (twice) in DJ, 1986 4th in DJ, 1988 5th in DJ, 1992 6th in DJ.

A21ccc 1986 FIRST GRAFTON PAPERBACK EDITION

Black wrappers with bright yellow circle with red horizontal rule cutting through it's lower third
1986 Printing
1987 Printing
1989 Printing at £3.99.

A21bbb 1987 THIRD EVERGREEN EDITION

Pink and black wrappers with watercolor illustration, "Untitled" by Helmut Middendorf, 1984
Published in June 1987, at $7.95.

A21ddd 1991 FIRST GROVE WEIDENFELD EDITION

Pink and black wrappers with watercolor illustration by Helmut Middendorf, 1984.
2nd-5th Printings: Published at $9.95.
6th Printing: Published at $10.95.
Note: The 1st Printing of this Edition is A21bbb, which has Grove Press listed as the publisher, rather than the change to Grove Weidenfeld, as is noted here.

A21eee 1991 TROPIQUE DU CAPRICORNE
SECOND CHENE / STOCK EDITION

Red, blue and black pictorial wrappers with photograph of New York skyline
Published in May 1991.
Note: This edition contains a three page préface, "REGARD SUR CAPRICORNE" written by Henry Miller which is dated January 29, 1972.

A21kkk 1993 FIRST FLAMINGO EDITION

White and blue illustrated wrappers with blurred image of a woman's face
Published in 1993, at £5.99.
Note: A new introduction by Robert Nye is repeated verbatim in the companion Tropic of Cancer [A9www].

A21lll 1993 FIRST BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB EDITION IN WRAPPERS

Multicolored wrappers with an illustration by Richard Merkin
Published in 1993.

A21mmm 1997 GROVE IN WRAPPERS

Black and gold wrappers with photo by Jean Leon
Published in 1997 at $12.00.

Any questions about Miller's book, corrections or new variations. Please email to:

washley@pacbell.net

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