This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/25/2024
SINCLAIR, Upton (1878-1968). Oil! A Novel. Long Beach, California, Published by the Author, [1927]. 8vo. [vi], [1]-527, [9, ads], [2, blank] pp. Original wrappers (front wrapper lacking, rear wrapper present, tear to front joint, spine a bit chipped, title-page nearly detached). Good. THE RARE “FIG LEAF” EDITION, ONE OF ONLY 150 COPIES, WRAPPER ISSUE. Oil! was banned in Boston due to pages mentioning motel sex. This edition was issued for sale in Boston with black “Fig Leaf” patterns printed over the offending pages (9 pages so printed, non-consecutive). Sinclair famously sold this edition personally on the streets of Boston wearing a sandwich board in order to protest the censorship. This book is the basis of the 2007 film, There Will Be Blood, starring Daniel Day Lewis, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.