Comments on: Collecting the Olympia Edition of Naked Lunch

By: Jerry Butler

Jerry Butler — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 04:33:20 +0000

I have in my collection a copy of the Naked Lunch in good condition. I believe it to be of the very first edition. It features the unaltered 1500 fr on the rear cover. I have it in Tangier and it came from the estate of the Honerable David Herbert who was in Burroughs circuit at the time. It has no cover. I read somewhere that the very first editions were marketed without a cover. Is there any truth in this?

By: Jeff Ball

Jeff Ball — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 11:29:29 +0000

Jed is correct. Published by Castle Books in March of 1973, in an edition of 5,000 copies. A little taller and thinner than the original Grove edition.

By: Jed

Jed — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 14:16:49 +0000

John,

Jeff Ball can correct me if I am wrong but this book is one of the most misunderstood and miscatalogued copies of Naked Lunch there is. It is an authorized reprint of the 1962 Grove Press edition. If you look around it is commonly listed as printed in 1959 or 1960. It was printed in 1973.

Here is Shoaf’s description from the RealityStudio listing for Naked Lunch’s bibliography:

Secaucus NJ: Castle Books 1973, published by permission of Grove Press, this is essentially a hardbound copy of the first Grove edition having a $6.00 price but showing small changes to printing on the dust jacket: [Burroughs] on the spine is printed vertically, [Castle Books] printed on the spine at bottom of the jacket, and the name and address of the publisher on rear panel are deleted. The text is bound in tan colored paper boards, whereas the Grove example has black paper and buckram coverings. Also, the Castle publication is a quarter inch taller than the Grove edition. Maynard & Miles A2f.

See here for the full Naked Lunch listing: https://realitystudio.org/bibliography/books-and-broadside-prints/naked-lunch/

Hope this helps you out. Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

By: john lyons

john lyons — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 01:09:55 +0000

I have an American edition of NAKED LUNCH that is a 1st edition but I`m not sure of the pressing. it is blank where the normal edition number goes. it has no address on the back and is signed by wsb in his early signature style. says CASTLE BOOKS on one page. then says published by GROVE PRESS on the other. help?

By: Jeff Ball

Jeff Ball — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 01:12:58 +0000

Is it printed as follows: “Francs : 18” ?
Is there NO ornamental border on the title page? Also, check the last page. See if it says “2* trimestre 1965” If so, it’s the later printing.

Still a coveted edition.

By: jed

jed — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 12:00:31 +0000

Nick

In January 1960 scarcely six months after the publication of Naked Lunch, the French government revalued the currency. The green rear wrapper of Naked Lunch possesses a price of 1500 Francs. Many copies are stamped in blue with 18 NF over the original price. What this means is that unsold copies of Naked Lunch were re-priced according to the new currency. There was no change to the content or format of the novel. Many dealers will list this book as a first edition, second state in order to indicate the alteration to the integrity of the book. They will also assure you that the stamp makes no difference. To me this is strictly a personal decision.

By: Nick Duncan

Nick Duncan — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 10:15:28 +0000

I hope you won’t mind a question. I have recently bought a copy of ‘The’ Naked Lunch. This copy does not have wrappers, but is really in what I would call ‘as new’ condition.
Internally all the markings are for the July 1959 printing; however, the rear cover has 18 francs printed rather than stamped.
Would this be considered a first?

By: Brett

Brett — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 02:07:32 +0000

Does anyone know what the TEXTUAL differences form a 1959 edition and a 1965 print would be (through Olympia?) I really really hope someone does!

By: RealityStudio

RealityStudio — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:13:09 +0000

Here’s the link to the book:

http://tinyurl.com/2al59a

Looks like an interesting association. I don’t recall seeing WSB use “Seward” at all.

By: jed

jed — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:36:41 +0000

There is a remarkable association copy of the Olympia Naked Lunch on abebooks.

Christopher Logue has ties to Paris in the 1950’s, Merlin Group and Trocchi, the British Poetry Revival and Olympia Press. Logue wrote db’s for Girodias.

The copy could be signed near the time of publication given the association and the presence of “Seward.” The middle name is not common although Burroughs would sign with his middle inital.

Note: it appears the book is missing the dustjacket which explains the low nature of the price given the association and the possibility of the early signature.