848 leaves housed in a sturdy, blue printed box with white ribbons. No. 227, limitation not indicated. Inscribed and signed to “DR” with personal messages. A damp stain on box, otherwise very good.
Kommentar: Written in the form of letters to D[ear] R[eader], it is sympathetic in its range and tone. The author’s original title was “The Smugly F*cklings”, until the publisher intervened. Symons was a controversial figure in Toronto coming out before doing so was de rigeur. He describes the novel as obscene, pornogra- phic, scandalous, irreverent, malicious, malignant and magnificient.