Grushenka

[Val Lewton, attributed]. Grushenka. Three Times a Woman. Paris: Privately printed, January 1933. First edition, limited to 800 copies, of which 650 were designated for to the U. S. or England, with 150 numbered copies for continental distribution; this unnumbered, therefore likely an export issue. The limitation also states the work was printed in Dijon, which it was not, so numbers taken with a grain of salt. Octavo (8.875 x 7 inches; 225 x 177 mm.). 252, [4, blank] pages (note: pages [1-4] are blank). Frontispiece and six additional illustrated plates by Kyu (pseudonym for William Bernhardt, better known as Jacques Merde) inserted throughout. Publisher's sewn sheets in the original oversized wrappers, some variation on a French fold with the fore-edge excess glued down on the inner wrapper; covers printed in reddish purple. Top edge of the text block trimmed, others rough-trimmed. Joints splitting; spine slightly rolled with some light creasing; crown chipped; edges somewhat worn. Occasional over-opening and light marginal thumb soiling. Still, very good. An original erotic pastiche written in English and one of eight books by Lewton. Published by Percy Shostac (according to critic and folklorist Gershon Legman). Stephen J. Gertz, "Grushenka: The Story Behind A Rare Classic Erotic Book," booktryst.com. (#10043).