Tales Told of Shem and Shaun Proofs, 1929

Collection

Identifier: 1988-017

Staff Only

Content Description

A set of corrected page proofs for Tales Told of Shem and Shaun: Three Fragments from Work in Progress (Paris: The Black Sun Press, 1929), the corrections probably in the hand of Caresse Crosby (who with her husband Harry were the publishers of The Black Sun Press), with pencilled notes apparently by C. K. Ogden for his preface to the book.

The present proofs include the text of the three episodes, without the preface, and were apparently sent to Ogden for his use in preparing his contribution. The proofs are paginated from 1 to 44, in pencil and ink , undoubtedly by someone at the printers. The first 21 pages are on square 8vo, thick laid sheets and comprise "The Mookse and the Gripes” and "The Ondt and the Gracehoper" episodes. They are lightly corrected (some 17 pencilled corrections, mostly of spelling and punctuation), probably by Caresse Crosby. In the published book these occupy 27 pages (1-16 and 45-55) while "The Muddest Thick" episode, pages 22-44 in the proofs, occupies 27 pages (17-43). These first 21 pages of proofs are laid in wrappers of the same paper, on the front cover of which, in an unidentified hand. is pencilled: "Proof sheets of Fragments/from James Joyce's/Work in Progress/Black Sun Press/2 rue Cardinale/Paris/April 1929."

Pages 22-44 of the proofs, comprising "The Muddest Thick” episode, are printed on thinner wove 4to sheets, and represent an early proof stage. The episode is untitled and bears extensive penciled emendations, probably by Caresse Crosby, both in script and in block letters. There are dozens of spelling and punctuation corrections, but more importantly, about 20 additions and revisions which completely change the sense the rhythm of a sentence, and it was at this stage that the diagram for "old Sire Isaac's universal" was added in a margin.

4 pages of pencil notes by Ogden.

A copy of the Black Sun Press edition. O, original printed wrappers, no. 18 of 500 copies on Holland Van Gelder Zonen.

Dates

Creation: 1929

Creator

Joyce, James, 1882-1941 (Person)

Access

This material is open for research use by any registered reader.

Use and Copyright

This material is owned by the University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections. Unpublished manuscripts are under copyright. Therefore, permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from both the repository and the copyright holder.

Biographical / Historical

During the years when separate episodes of Finnegans Wake were being published as Work in Progress, it was the desire of almost every private press to acquire an excerpt for publication. Harry and Caresse Crosby, through the intervention of Eugene Jolas, publisher of transition, were given The Tales Told of Shem and Shaun, which included "The Mookse and the Gripes,'' "The Muddest Thick That Was Ever Heard Dump," and "The Ondt and the Gracehoper," all previously published in issues of transition. Brancusi contributed an abstract portrait of Joyce for the frontispiece and C. K. Ogden. the inventor of Basic English, wrote the preface. This Black Sun Press edition appeared in August 1929.

The proofs bear out Richard Ellmann's comment (James Joyce. 1982. pp.614-615) that "Joyce kept the Crosbys in a state of controlled fury by endlessly revising the proofs, heaping more and more epithets upon the fabled mookse, ondt and gracehoper."

Extent

4 items (Three gatherings of paper, one book.) : 44 pages, square 8vo and 4vo; 4 pages large 4vo.; 56 pages ; 22 cm; 27 cm; 23 cm; 22 cm.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Christie’s (Printed Books and Manuscripts Including Modern Literature and Science; May 20 1988‎, item 314); Purchased from Lew David Feldman. House of El Dieff. lnc., 1973 (Catalogue 72. item 247) where the corrections were thought 10 have been in the hand of Joyce’s daughter Lucia).

Christie's thanked Special Collections, Morris Library, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, for their invaluable assistance in the cataloging of these proofs.