THE SOFT MACHINE

Paris: The Olympia Press. 1961. First edition, first printing. First edition, first printing. Original green card covers with titles in black, in the the Brion Gysin illustrated dustwrapper. A better than very good copy, the binding square and firm, with bumping and a small nick to the spine tips. The contents, with some toning to the text block edges, are otherwise clean throughout and free from inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the lightly rubbed, nicked and creased dustwrapper that is a little toned to the spine edges. Not price-clipped (15,00) to the front flap of the dustwrapper, but with the second state NF 18 overstamp to the lower cover of the book. A very attractive example of Burroughs' third (published) novel, and the first part of 'The Nova Trilogy'. No. 88 in the Olympia Press 'Traveller's Companion' series, and the second Burroughs novel to appear in the iconic green livery of the Parisian press, following 'The Naked Lunch' (No. 76) two years earlier. This, the first version of 'The Soft Machine', is a notably more fragmentary and radical text than the two subsequent revisions published respectively by Grove Press in 1966 and John Calder in 1968. 5000 copies were printed. (Maynard & Miles A5a; Shoaf 5). Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.