V.B.15.b

The manuscript consists of 76 loose sheets of typing paper, of which pp. [22]–[27] are watermarked "LINEN PAPER | LAFUMA BERTHOLET & NAVARRE | VOIRON" and pp. [22]–[27] and [76] are heavier. There are no additions and only one minor correction on p. [72] in pencil. All the sheets are double-spaced typewritten purple ink bottom (carbon) copies, except p. [76] that is a black ribbon top (original) copy and p. [14], which is blank; all the versos are blank, except p. [76v].

Joyce titled the section on p. [56] "bedroom" in pencil.

The sheets measure approximately 27.0 x 20.7 cm.

The sheets are paginated "1"–"45", "44a", "44a" and "45"–"73" by Joyce in the upper right corner in lead pencil. Note that these page numbers differ from MS V.B.15.a.

The manuscript is a complete duplicate of MS V.B.15.a, including pp. [75] and [76] that are missing from that copy. It consists of a selection of questions and answers (one question and answer per page, except for p. [47], which is a continuation of the answer on p. [46]) that were made at Joyce’s instructions for Valery Larbaud’s "séance consacrée a James Joyce" on 7 December 7 1921 at Adrienne Monnier’s book shop, La Maison des Amis des Livres. The text on the pages is as follows:

The typescript was prepared in late October 1921.

There are mathematical computations in pencil on p. [76] in pencil and red crayon markings on pp. [17] and [19] and marks in black ink, possibly by Joyce, on p. [76v].

Only pp. [17], [19], [56], [72] and [75]–[76v] of manuscript have been reproduced in black and white photo-facsimile on JJA 16.230, 232, 269, 285 and 288–290.

There are triangular perforations in the upper left corner of pp. [46] and [47] and rust stains from a paperclip on pp. [3v], [5], [16v], [18v], [43] and [47v]; no other perforations or traces of metal paper clips appear in this manuscript. There are water stains on pp. [1]–[4] and [76].