Fine Literature & Modern Firsts

JOYCE, James (1882–1941). Autographed letter signed (“James Joyce”) to Madame Yasushi Tanaka (Louise Gebhard Cann), 24 November 1920. 1 page, 16mo (165 x 121 mm), on blue correspondence card with perforated edges folded once and addressed in Joyce’s hand with canceled stamps, mailing fold. Joyce writes, “Dear Madam, In reply to your letter I shall call on you on Sunday afternoon next as it seems to be the most convenient time for you. Sincerely yours, James Joyce.” Louise Gebhard Cann was a prominent writer and art critic in early 20th century France. At Ezra Pound’s suggestion, Cann wrote to Joyce requesting an interview with him for an article on writers in France set to appear in an upcoming issue of The Pacific Review. Following publication of the “Nausicaa” episode of Ulysses in The Little Review the previous year Joyce’s writing was deemed obscene, with this issue of The Little Review effectively banned in the United States, and it is believed that because of the controversy the editors then decided to omit any mention of Joyce from the finished article published in the March 1921 issue of The Pacific Review. Ellman James Joyce Letters, III:31.