Tropic of Cancer - with - Tropic of Capricorn - Henry Miller, Ana 1945 - The Obelisk Press, Paris - Second Edition, Fourth Impression Two early printings of Miller’s classics, controversial at the time. In the wonderful paper wrappers as published in Paris by the risk taking Obelisk Press of Jack Kahane. Consisting of the sixth Obelisk printing of Tropic of Cancer with a preface by Anaïs Nin and the second Obelisk printing of Tropic of Capricorn. Both printed in August of 1945 after the Obelisk Press reopened for business, to take advantage of the huge numbers of Allied Forces present in Paris immediately after the war.

Rare to find such a brace in their delicate paper wrappers in such wonderful condition, especially considering their likely arduous journey from a war torn Paris of 1945 to the United States.

Henry Miller's collaboration with the French
Obelisk Press in the 1930s produced three phenomenal works, all promptly banned in America and Great Britain. The groundbreaking Tropic of Cancer published by Jack Kahane in 1934 after Anais Nin helped cover costs, its followup Tropic of Capricorn, finally printed in 1939, and Black Spring, a collection of vignettes and tales from 1936.

Now hailed as an American classic,
Tropic of Cancer was banned in the U.S.A. as obscene for 27 years after its first publication in Paris by Jack Kahane of Obelisk Press in 1934. Only a historic court ruling that changed American censorship standards – and the tireless efforts of Grove Press publisher Barney Rosset – permitted the U.S.A. publication in 1961 of this famed mixture of memoir and fiction, which chronicles with unapologetic gusto the bawdy adventures of a young expatriate writer, his friends, and the characters they meet in Paris in the 1930s.

Tropic of Capricorn, the companion volume to Tropic of Cancer, chronicles Miller’s life in 1920s New York City. Famous for its frank portrayal of life in Brooklyn’s ethnic neighborhoods and Miller’s outrageous sexual exploits.
  Both Cancer and Capricorn are one of 10,000 copies, each sold at 175 francs. There were only 1,000 copies of the May 1939 first printing of Capricorn but few where sold before the beginning of the war, the death of Kahane and the shutting down of the press. Although Cancer states ‘’Fifth Printing’ opposite the title page, this is the sixth printing rushed out to a waiting liberated Paris, using the printing plates of the 1939 fifth printing without changes.

References: Shifreen & Jackson,
Henry Miller: A Bibliography of Primary Sources, A9t, A21d. Pearson, Books Published by Jack Kahane and the Obelisk Press, A-32(f), A-60 (b).

Two octavo volumes (book size 19.4x14.4cm), pp. [2] 318 [4]; [4] 11-365 [1]. In publisher’s blue wrappers (
Cancer - blue colour, Capricorn - red), spines lettered in black, front panel with black text enclosed in white panels. Capricorn with publisher’s errata slip tipped in before title page.
  Condition: Internally fine but for the toning, in near fine wrappers with some light creasin and wear to corners and spine ends.   Ref: 111022   Price: HK$ 5,500