"MY BIRTHDAY AND THE DAY ON WHICH MY BOOK IS TO SEE THE LIGHT" JOYCE, JAMES. Finnegans Wake. Large 8vo, publisher's orange-red buckram, spine gilt-lettered and ruled, top edges gilt, others uncut, spine with uniform slight fading and small innocuous splits at extremities; internally clean and free from any bookplates or markings; original yellow slipcase, rubbed and sunned with top panel absent. first english edition, limited issue, number 4 of 425 copies, signed by joyce in green ink on the limitation leaf. Connolly, The Modern Movement 87; Slocum & Cahoon A49. London: Faber & Faber; New York: The Viking Press, 1939
with-Autograph Letter Signed by Joyce laid-in. 4to, 2 pages on two conjugate leaves, dated January 15, 1939, in green ink, with original stamped envelope accomplished in his hand. Sent from Paris to "Mr. Gunn" (Selskar Michael Gunn [Gilbert, Letters, Vol. 3, p. 455, 2nd ed.]) and extends an invitation to him and a Dr. O'Brien, both of whom were connected with the Hungarian State Hygienic Institute (Characteristically, Joyce cannot resist himself a little fun at their expense, writing "I hope you will both be back in all-too-antihygienic Paris in time for this modest feast"). "Modest feast" or no, the occasion for the invitation was an important one. It was Joyce's 57th birthday, and the eve of the long anticipated appearance of Work in Progress in full, finally to be published as Finnegans Wake. Helen Joyce, wife of Giorgio, Joyce's son, organized the auspicious event: "I am writing on behalf of my daughter-in-law who wants to invite Mrs. Gunn and yourself for the 2nd of February (my birthday and the day on which my book is to see the light)..." Slocum & Cahoon records the Faber & Faber publication date as May 4, 1939, three months later. It is quite possible that the present copy was owned by Helen, as it and the accompanying letter were acquired in tandem by the present owner. a significant letter referencing the accompanying signed first edition of finnegans wake on the occasion of its publication.
