A first and limited edition copy of James Joyce's Ulysses has sold for £56,250 ($84,397) at Christie's in London.

The lot was among the highlights of a sale of rare books on December 1.

Ulysses was banned in the UK and Ireland until the 1930s

Joyce was unable to get his book published in the UK and Ireland due to strict obscenity laws. It was first published by Shakespeare and Company, a Paris based English language bookstore.

The book is number 47 of 100 and is printed on fine Dutch paper.

Christie's comments: "The first printing consisted of 1,000 copies, divided into three various limitations. The first 100 copies were printed on fine handmade paper, numbered 1-100, and signed by Joyce.

"Copies 101-250 were also printed on handmade paper, though of a lesser grade than the first 100, and were not signed by Joyce.

"The final 750 copies were numbered 251-1,000, printed on the least expensive stock of paper, and like the previous limitation, were not signed by Joyce."

The lot was rebound during the 1960s, which meant it sold for considerably less than other Ulysses first editions.

The record is £275,000 ($418,948), set in a 2009 sale.

You can take a look at all our books and manuscripts for sale here.