Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
vladimir nabokov. the real life of sabastian knight. new directions, 1941.
Price: US$29.50 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: dj: none. book: above avg minus sunned spine & top edge
Seller: Thylacine Books, Fort Worth, TX, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, Norfolk, Connecticut, 1941.
Price: US$100.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Of the 1500 copies in this first edition, this is one of 751 in smooth red cloth, paper labels. Spine faded and label yellowed, edges showing wear. Gift inscription in green ink on front free endpaper. The fist of Nabokov's English language novels.
Seller: Possum Books, Charlottesville, VA, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight.. New Directions, Norfolk, CT, 1941.
Price: US$125.00 + shipping
Description: First edition, second issue of Nabokov's first novel published in English. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition The Real Life of Sebastian Knight is a perversely magical literary detective story -- subtle, intricate, leading to a tantalizing climax -- about the mysterious life of a famous writer. Many people knew things about Sebastian Knight as a distinguished novelist, but probably fewer than a dozen knew of the two love affairs that so profoundly influenced his career, the second one in such a disastrous way. After Knight's death, his half brother sets out to penetrate the enigma of his life, starting with a few scanty clues in the novelist's private papers. His search proves to be a story as intriguing as any of his subject's own novels, as baffling, and, in the end, as uniquely rewarding.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, N.Y., 1941.
Price: US$125.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Fading to the spine and it's label, with wear to its ends, name in ink on inside front board, over all a decent copy of a scarce book
Seller: Recycled, Corte Madera, CA, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, Norfolk, Connecticut, 1941.
Price: US$150.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Second state binding, red cloth with paper labels on spine and front cover. No markings. Attractive copy. Colophon states 1500 copies printed.
Seller: Manchester By The Book, Manchester-By-the-Sea, MA, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, Norfolk, CT, 1941.
Price: US$150.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: 205pp. Octavo [22 cm] Thickly woven red cloth over boards, with a decorative paper title label on the front board (title label on spine is lacking). The spine is subly sunned (with the exception of the area where the title label once was). There is a contemporary owner's name, along with the brief notation, "Kansas City, 1943," on the front free endpaper. The endpapers are darkened along the edges and hinges. Nabokov's first significant work in English. First edition (with publisher's "Publication Stamp Dec 12 1941").
Seller: Ken Sanders Rare Books, ABAA, Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, Norfolk, CT, 1941.
Price: US$164.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: One of 1500 copies. Red burlap cvrs. Clean, sunned area on cvr.part of spine label missing, cvr. label vg. Minimal wear. Innards have some foxing on end papers, o/w clean & tight. 205 pp. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: General Eclectic Books, Gray, ME, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, Norfolk, 1941.
Price: US$180.00 + shipping
Description: 8vo, red cloth (second state), printed paper titles pasted to spine and front board. First edition. Lacking dj. Near fine with some ver light fading to spine, faint water to front (some dye to front label) dust and a little rubbing to spine title, former ownerÔÇÖs signature to ffp.
Seller: Handbook, Toronto, ON, Canada
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastion Knight. New Directions, Norfolk Ct, 1941.
Price: US$250.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Red cloth w/paste down on spine & cover, 205 pgs. One of 1500 copies printed in Nov. MCMXLI, by the Walpole Printing Office, NY. Sound Binding, Clean pages, Covers & Spine have fading. "Using parody as a springboard to the region of highest emotion, this light, swift novel explores life, art, exile, loss, and the shift from one language or love to another in ways painfully close to Nabokov’s experience at the time".
Seller: The Vintage BookStore, Jim Thorpe, PA, U.S.A.
Vladimir Nabokov. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, Norfolk, CT, 1941.
Price: US$280.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: hardcover, red burlap with paper label to spine and one on cover. lacks dust jacket. spine sun-dulled. spine label missing small piece at corner. negligible bit of wear to top corner of spine. tiny stain artifact to top edge. pastedowns have slightly darkened margins from glue. front pastedown has very small inked number, 250 in corner. this is issue a21.1 with all of the points present. the ffep has the name, pertzoff in cursive pencil. perhaps it was owned by vn translator, peter pertzoff. no other markings. no bumps. strong binding. nice copy. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall
Seller: art longwood books, Gloucester, MA, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, 1941.
Price: US$350.00 + shipping
Description: According to Michael Juliar, while the colophon states a limitation of 1500 copies, only 749 were printed in 1941 with woven red burlap. The remaining 751 copies were not printed and bound in smooth red cloth until 1945. Juliar A21.1. Shade of sunning to spine and edges, nearly imperceptible short pull to rear board, else fine. Red woven burlap, paper labels. Lacking dust jacket
Seller: THE HERMITAGE BOOKSHOP, Denver, CO, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, Norfolk, Conn., 1941.
Price: US$400.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: The first American edition, published by New Directions in 1941. One of 749 copies in the first issue, with red cloth in a rouch buckram weave. A near fine example of an uncommon book, a touch of toningt o the spine and light wear to the spine base and forward tip.
Seller: The Reluctant Bookseller, Albany, NY, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight.. New Directions, Norfolk, CT, 1941.
Price: US$500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of Nabokov's first novel published in English, one of only 1,500 copies printed. Octavo, original burlap weave. In fine condition. A very nice example. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight is a perversely magical literary detective story -- subtle, intricate, leading to a tantalizing climax -- about the mysterious life of a famous writer. Many people knew things about Sebastian Knight as a distinguished novelist, but probably fewer than a dozen knew of the two love affairs that so profoundly influenced his career, the second one in such a disastrous way. After Knight's death, his half brother sets out to penetrate the enigma of his life, starting with a few scanty clues in the novelist's private papers. His search proves to be a story as intriguing as any of his subject's own novels, as baffling, and, in the end, as uniquely rewarding.
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Vladimir Nabokov. The Real Life of Sabastian Knight. New Directions, Norfolk, Connecticut, 1941.
Price: US$650.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Norfolk, CT: New Directions, 1941. Limited edition (1,500 unnumbered copies), VG+. Book (red burlap-covered boards) has former owner name (red ink) on FFE, dulling to the spine label, light wear to spine ends, somewhat faded red color to boards, some light soiling to top and fore-page edges. Nice copy, 205 pp. BP
Seller: Blue Skye Books, Novato, CA, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, 1941.
Price: US$1400.00 + shipping
Condition: As New
Description: Publisher: New Directions, Norfolk, CT, 1941. FINE- in brick-red, burlap-weave-covered boards with a paper label on the spine and another paper label on the front panel. Toning to the spine, otherwise as new. One of 1500 copies. First US Edition, First Printing.
Seller: Glands of Destiny First Edition Books, Sedro Woolley, WA, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, Norfolk, Connecticut, 1941.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Description: Red burlap. Missing the spine label (there is no trace or evidence one was ever present), small variant cover label. Slight wear at ends of spine, slight fading, dust jacket lacks the front flap, has minor edge wear. The author's name is spelled "Nabokov" on the jacket. A review copy, stamped with the publication date on the front endpaper. Juliar A21.1, issue a.
Seller: Thomas A. Goldwasser Rare Books (ABAA), CHESTER, CT, U.S.A.
Nabokov, Vladimir. The Real Life of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, Norfolk, Connecticut, 1941.
Price: US$1500.00 + shipping
Description: Red burlap , spine and cover labels. A fine copy with no wear, bright spine label (small variant); the jacket is missing large chips from the spine. The author's name is spelled "Nabokov" on jacket. A review copy, stamped with the publication date on the front endpaper, and a contemporary publicity photo of Nabokov is laid in. Ownership signature of Milton Merlin, blacklisted Hollywood writer and producer. Juliar E21.
Seller: Thomas A. Goldwasser Rare Books (ABAA), CHESTER, CT, U.S.A.
NABOKOV, VLADIMIR. The Real Life Of Sebastian Knight. New Directions, Norfolk, Conn, 1941.
Price: US$2000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: In original deep red burlap weave cloth with paper label to the center of the front panel and another label at the spine. This copy meets all of the points to be listed as A21.1. The front and spine labels are in the small size. The name of "Nabokov" appears throughout and "Vladimir" is spelled correctly. This copy has the rare publication stamp, which is noted in the bibliography. This stamp states "Publication Date, December 12, 1941." Though the colophon states this edition had Fifteen Hundred copies printed, in fact, only 749 were actually bound, the remaining copies were warehoused and finally bound in 1949 with a different binding. The book is extremely nice with just a hint of toning to the page edges. The dust jacket by Alvin Lustig shows some minor wear and darkening and some loss to the spine ends. Overall, this remains a very clean, bright and pleasing copy of the true first edition of this very important and scarce Nabokov title, from December of 1941. Near Fine / Very Good.
Seller: First Place Books - ABAA, ILAB, Walkersville, MD, U.S.A.
Price: US$2500.00 + shipping
Condition: Fine
Description: 205 Pp. First Edition. Colophon States A Total Of 1500 Copies Were Printed. Bound In Smooth Red Cloth [749 Copies Were Bound In A Red Burlap Binding In 1941, The Remaining 751 Copies Were Bound In This Smooth Red Cloth Binding And Issued In April 1945]. First Issue [1941] Paper Labels, Printed Text On Front Label Being 2.7 Cm Wide [It Is Believed That Copies With A 3 Cm Width Print Line Were Issued Only With Some 1945 Bindings]. First Issue Dj With Name Correctly Spelled As Nabokov On Cover And Flaps [ A Variant Dj With Spelling "Nabokoff" Was Apparently Printed First, But, Confusingly, Issued Only On The 1945 Issue In Smooth Red Cloth, Probably When The Publisher Ran Out Of Corrected Jackets]. [For A Bibliographic Description See Vnbiblio]. Bright And Fresh, Spine And Cover Labels White And As New. Jacket Is Nearly Complete, Not Price-Clipped [$2.50] And Only Lightly Worn; It Has A Small Chip At Part Of The Top Of The Spine, Up To 3/8" Deep, Removing The First "T" In The Title; A Curved Chip Up To 3/8" Deep At Bottom Of Spine; There Is A 1/4" Long, 1/8" Deep Chip At The Base Of The Front Panel, And Tiny Chips At Tips; There Is A One Inch Long Closed And Nearly Invisible Tear Along The Front Top Spine Edge, And A 3/16" X 1/8" Chip At The Front Spine Edge About 2" Down From The Top Of The Book, Not Affecting The Lettering Or Design. The Red Cloth Is A Little Discolored Where The Chips Exposed The Cloth. An Attractive Copy. The Unlaminated And Thin Jacket Is Quite Fragile And Has Become Quite Scarce.
Seller: Arroyo Seco Books, Pasadena, Member IOBA, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A.