American edition

SP had also been 'published' in the United States. Graves quotes Lawrence's version of this in Biog (1), from a letter written on 9th June 1927: 'Doran set up and printed the main text, in New York: and on Dec. 1, 1926, the day of publication in England, registered his edition, and presented the statutory copies to Congress Library. I gave him four copies, to let him have scope for a private flutter: took six myself: and left 10, on sale: the first at 20,000 dollars: the survivors to double, upon the sale of any one.' Presumably two copies went to the Congress Library, for in History Lawrence referred to 22 copies, of which 10 were for sale, and 22 is also the number quoted in the book itself.

Doran had worked from a proof of the subscribers' edition - 'Spoiled Proof No. 8', according to History, and the American book contained 'Minor defects in text as compared with complete Cranwell Edition, with two variant passages, no introductory tabular matter or appendices, no plates.' But it did include a Kennington tail-piece which had not appeared in the subscribers' [Cranwell] edition. The records show that the copyright deposit of the un-numbered Library of Congress copies was made on 3rd December - the rest of the edition was numbered and signed by the publisher. Lawrence wrote to E H Anderson, Director of the New York Public Library, about the American edition, on 12th April 1927: 'After consulting Mr. Doran I put the price of the first copy at 20,000 dollars, with a progressive majoration to prevent speculation in the entire issue. The cost to myself has been some £600. It is a good deal to pay for security of copyright: but in no circumstances could I have agreed to a widespread distribution in the States of an edition necessarily deprived of its plates and decorations.'

1	Biog G, p 46

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