True First Edition of Women in Love, Limited to 1250 Copies — No. 180
Privately Printed for Subscribers Only**
A cornerstone of 20th‑century literature and the provocative sequel to Lawrence’s 1915 novel The Rainbow. Women in Love continues the turbulent emotional and erotic journeys of the Brangwen sisters, Ursula and Gudrun. Suppressed, debated, and fiercely defended upon publication, the novel stands today as one of Lawrence’s most ambitious and psychologically penetrating works—ranked forty‑ninth on the Modern Library list of the 100 best English‑language novels of the century.
Edition & Limitation
The true first edition, privately printed for subscribers only, limited to 1250 numbered copies, of which this is No. 180. A substantial production in every sense—large 8vo, 536 pages, printed on quality stock and bound in full blue buckram.
Binding
Original blue buckram with gilt‑titled spine and slightly raised bands. A notably heavy volume, with many surviving copies showing broken or heavily repaired hinges. This example has had hinge repair, though cracks remain visible along the inner hinges. Light edgewear; corners bumped; some softening and fading to the spine tips; and a scattering of small spots to the cloth boards. Despite these typical flaws, the book retains strong shelf presence and remains structurally sound for a work of its size and age.
Condition
- Original blue buckram, gilt spine
- Repaired but still visibly cracked inner hinges
- Light edgewear; bumped corners
- Softening and fading at spine ends
- A few spots to cloth boards
- Clean text block; no major defects beyond the expected wear of this famously fragile binding
Additional Features
Housed in a custom cloth clamshell slipcase, providing both protection and an elegant presentation for this important Lawrence first edition.
A Collectible Example
While not pristine, this copy represents a solid, appealing, and increasingly scarce example of the true first edition of Women in Love—a landmark novel whose publication history is as charged as its themes. With most copies suffering from severe hinge failure or heavy restoration, this numbered subscriber’s copy remains highly desirable for collectors of Lawrence, modernist literature, and significant private‑press productions of the early 20th century.