Lot of First US and UK Editions of 'The Bell Jar'

This lot comprises the first US and UK editions of Sylvia Plath's only novel, 'The Bell Jar'. The first UK edition was issued under the pseudonym 'Victoria Lucas'.

1. First US Edition of The Bell Jar

New York: Harper & Row, 1971 8vo (21 x 14 x 2.9cm), 296pp. Original hardcover binding with dust jacket. With deckled edges. Condition: The dust jacket has some light rubbing. Some staining to inside of dust jacket, and also some adhesive tape stains to the inside of dust jacket, where the protective plastic covering has been fastened to it. Adhesive tape stains to the boards. Small stain to the top edge of the textblock, which has caused slight wrinkling to the top edges of the pages. Small stains to the top edges of the first few pages. Text is clean and clear, a well bound copy. Has '0471' on front flap of the dust jacket and no number line, indicating a later printing on copyright page.

2. First UK Edition of The Bell Jar

London: William Heinemann Ltd, 1963 8vo (19 x 12.5 x 2.4cm), 258pp. Original hardcover binding with dust jacket. Condition: Dust jacket has some rubbing, edgewear, small chips to edges, and small closed tears to the edges (less than 3cm). Dust jacket is unclipped, and has been covered with protective plastic. Previous owner's signature to the front free endpaper. Small mark in red pencil to bottom edge of textblock. Text is clean and clear, a well bound copy.

The Bell Jar is the only novel written by the American writer and poet Sylvia Plath. Originally published under the pseudonym "Victoria Lucas" in 1963, the novel is semi-autobiographical, with the names of places and people changed. The book is often regarded as a roman à clef because the protagonist's descent into mental illness parallels Plath's own experiences with what may have been clinical depression or bipolar II disorder. Plath died by suicide a month after its first UK publication. The novel was published under Plath's name for the first time in 1967 and was not published in the United States until 1971, in accordance with the wishes of both Plath's husband, Ted Hughes, and her mother. The novel has been translated into nearly a dozen languages. (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bell_Jar)