Sell or Auction Your Charles Dickens Great Expectations 1st / 2nd 1861 for up to Nearly $10,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
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Great Expectations is the thirteenth novel by Charles Dickens and his penultimate completed novel. It depicts the education of an orphan nicknamed Pip (the book is a bildungsroman; a coming-of-age story). It is Dickens’ second novel, after David Copperfield, to be fully narrated in the first person. The novel was first published as a serial in Dickens’s weekly periodical All the Year Round, from 1 December 1860 to August 1861. In October 1861, Chapman and Hall published the novel in three volumes.
Below is a recent realized price for a Charles Dickens Great Expectations 1st / 2nd 1861 item. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to this amount or more for you:
Charles Dickens Great Expectations 1st / 2nd 1861. Sold for nearly $10,000.
Here are some prices we have realized for Charles Dickens memorabilia:
Charles Dickens 1859 Signed Copy of His Weekly Magazine Featuring “Christmas Tales”
Extra 1859 “Christmas Tales” edition of Dickens’ weekly magazine, “Household Words,” which was published every Wednesday from 1850-59. Signed with Dickens’ full signature & typical paraph on the title page. Dickens also initials “C.D.” in pencil beside his contributions to the magazine, which included “A Christmas Tree” and “What Christmas Is, as We Grow Older.” Includes a 1933 note from owner Walter Browne stating that “this volume of Christmas Tales by Charles Dickens is specially autographed by him for ‘Pa Browne’ who had the leaflet sent up to him, & he kindly signed it – ‘Pa’ Browne died in 1882…” With frontispiece portrait and ownership inscription of “Mr Russell Browne, York, 1859” on verso of the title. Very good condition. Sold for $7,200.
Beautiful First Edition Set of Charles Dickens Five Christmas Books — Including Scarce First Edition, First Printing of “A Christmas Carol”
Rare complete first edition set of Dickens’ Christmas books, beautifully bound in deep red morocco. London: Bradbury & Evans: 1843-48. A complete set of the five novels that forever wed Dickens’ legacy to the celebration of Christmas. Volumes include “A Christmas Carol,” “The Chimes,” “The Cricket on the Hearth,” “The Battle of Life” and “The Haunted Man.” First edition, first printing of “A Christmas Carol”; first edition, second printing of “The Chimes”; first edition, second printing of “The Cricket on the Hearth”; first edition, fourth printing of “The Battle of Life”; first edition of “The Haunted Man.” With original illustrations, including four full-color plates in “A Christmas Carol.” Books are uniformly bound in sumptuous red crushed levant morocco with gilt spine titles inside five raised bands. Inner covers decoratively tooled with designs unique to each title and double-ruled borders in gilt. Marbled endpapers and top edges gilt. In very good condition with moderate wear and light, expected soiling. Spine has been rebacked on “A Christmas Carol” and its original endpapers are not present. Overall, a very good, scarce first edition set of Dickens’ wondrous holiday works. Sold for $4,440.
Charles Dickens autograph letter signed from 1854, shortly after writing ”Hard Times”. Dickens writes from Tavistock House in London on 23 December 1854, writing ”Dear sir, Let me amuse you that your explanation was not at all necessary. I fully understood that you had a great deal to do, and never for a moment accused you in my thoughts of the slightest omission. The result of the night is very gratifying indeed, and fills me with pleasure. There is no hope of Sir towards Dalmer Lytton. He told me only the other day, that he was quite bewildered by such applications, and that where a speech hanging on him was to cast a shadow on his daily life. We resolve of never to ask any such service of each other and your letter binds me for the first time what I promise.” Dickens signs ”Faithfully yours / Charles Dickens” with his ornate paraph to second page of 2pp. letter on two sheets. Matted to blue background underneath brown wooden frame with engraving of Dickens. Letter measures 4.25” x 6.5”, framed to 20.25” x 26”. Light soiling to bottom of second page of letter, and very small tears to top of each sheet. Very good condition overall. Sold for $3,781.
Rare collection of the 20 installments of ”David Copperfield” by Charles Dickens first edition, as first published in serialized form from 1849-1850. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1849. Before publication in book form, ”David Copperfield” (Dickens’ favorite of his novels) was published in 20 parts in 19 monthly serials, from May 1849-November 1850, all present here and housed in a beautiful custom leather clamshell box. With the original 40 plated illustrations by H.K. ”Phiz” Browne. Bound in original green printed wrappers each measuring 5.75” x 8.75”. Some rebacking and restoration to wrappers, and with some minor toning, soiling or wear. Ownership signatures on a few front wrappers. Some of the plates browned and foxed. Part IV lacks first leaf of ”Advertiser”. Part VII lacks the Punch slip. Part VIII lacks the 12-page ”Advertiser”, and the rare Letts fold-out ad, but has seven diary leaf samples from the Letts ad and an ad in front (”New Illustrated Work by John Leech”). Parts XII, XIII and XVIII lack the 8-page ”Advertiser”. Part XIV lacks the front slip. Part XIX/XX lacks the final leaf of ”Advertiser” and the Douglas Jerrold slip, with several cracked gutters. Overall a very good set of ”David Copperfield”, one of the rarer serialized titles and a great Charles Dickens first edition. Sold for $3,125.
Rare First Edition of Charles Dickens Classic, “A Christmas Carol” — in Original Binding
Lovely first edition, second printing of “A Christmas Carol,” scarce in its original brown binding. Published by Chapman & Hall: London: 1843. With all four color engravings by John Leech present. A remarkably well-preserved copy of Dickens’ classic holiday tale of redemption and grace, peppered generously with his satirical wit. Book has been gently read and is in very good condition, with binding somewhat cocked and light wear to spine and boards; internally, book is very sound. Overall, an attractive and nicely presentable copy. Sold for $2,281.
Charles Dickens autograph letter signed, dated 15 March 1867 from Dublin. Written on Gads Hill Place stationery, his Kent estate where he lived from 1867 until his death in 1870. Shortly after this letter, Dickens began a grueling reading tour of the United States and then a series of ”farewell readings” in England, Scotland and Ireland. Letter addressed to Major Colonel Cunningham mentions one of his readings: ”Dublin Friday fifteenth March 1867 / Dear Sir / I am heartily glad to hear from you again and should have been delighted to dine with you today but that I ‘Read’ tonight. Indeed then I am so engaged which is but occasionally. I thank my stars all social pleasures is denied me, and I lead a mere working life. Believe me always / Very faithfully yours / Charles Dickens / Major General Cunningham”. Written in blue ink, letter measures 4” x 7”, framed to an overall size of 13” x 22.5”. Light folds, else near fine. Sold for $1,892.
Charles Dickens autograph letter signed. Dated 12 October 1840, letter was composed while Dickens was working on ”Christmas Story” at age 28. Letter reads in full, ”My Dear Sir, I have just returned to town after six weeks absent and hasten to thank you for your friendly congratulations and good wishes, which I do most cordially. I have written to [illegible] Ebson by this post. / Believe me / Faithfully yours / Charles Dickens.” Single-page letter on a sheet of card-style stationery measures 4.5” x 7.25”. A notation ”William Smith Williams” and another word appear at the bottom edge. Toning, 1” separation at top fold and paper remnant to top edge of verso. Overall in very good plus condition. Sold for $1,875.
First Edition, First Printing of Charles Dickens’ “Bleak House”
First edition, first printing of “Bleak House” by Charles Dickens. London: Bradbury & Evans, 1853. The full suite of 40 plates are present, including the frontispiece, title-page and 10 “dark plates”. All first printing points are present: “elgble” on p. 19, line 6; “chair” instead of “hair” on p. 209, line 23; and “counsinship” instead of “cousinship” on p. 275, line 22. Bound in publisher’s original green cloth, with original yellow-coated endpapers. Measures 6″ x 9″. Binding is the scarce publisher’s variant, with the publication date in gilt Roman numerals to the foot of the spine, and bound without the half-title, as called for. Slip of paper is affixed to the front free endpaper, measuring approximately 5″ x .75″, with Charles Dickens’ name handwritten in cursive. Book is very good with sunning and fraying to cloth along spine and binding slightly cocked. Internally, some pages are foxed with some light dampstaining. As this first printing bound the original serialized wrappers, some of the blue wrappers are still visible peeking through the binding. Overall a nice, rare copy of Dickens’ classic. Sold for $1,848.
Charles Dickens Autograph Letter Signed
Charles Dickens autograph letter signed upon his Gads Hill Place letterhead. Dated 19 December 1865 to a Mr. Hudson, Dickens writes, ”find me at my office, 26 Wellington Street, on Friday at 12, or on Saturday at the same hour” and signs ”Charles Dickens” with his distinctive paraph. Single page letter on card-style letterhead measures 4.5” x 7”. Some dampstaining, light toning and separation starting along folds, overall in good condition. Accompanied by a 1871 reprint of ”The Strange Gentleman”, Dickens’ first play to be performed. In soft wrappers, play measures 5” x 7.75”. Very good condition. Sold for $1,000.
The following are some similar items we have sold:
Exceedingly Rare First Printing Dust Jacket of “The Great Gatsby” — Scarce Jacket Houses First Printing of the Classic Novel
Rare first edition, first printing of one of the most desired books in the history of literature, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”, with the nearly impossible to find first printing dust jacket, showing the lowercase “j” in “Jay Gatsby” on the rear flap hand-corrected in ink, indicative of the first printing. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1925. Designed by artist Francis Cugat, the dust jacket echoes the romantic tone of the novel, with hints of loss and opulence at its core, showing a pair of feminine eyes, with two nude figures in her irises, gazing over a Coney Island carnival. Fitzgerald’s reaction to the jacket was captured in a 1924 letter to editor Maxwell Perkins, “For Christ’s sake, don’t give anyone that dust jacket you’re saving for me. I’ve written it into the book.” It is perhaps one of the few instances where the jacket design actually influenced the novel, and is one of the scarcest first printing jackets in modern literature.
For the book itself, every first printing point is present: 1925 printed on title page; Charles Scribner’s Sons logo appears on the copyright page with no subsequent printing statements; “chatter” appears on page 60; “northern” appears on page 119; “it’s” printed on line 16 of page 165; “sick in tired” found on page 205; “Union Street station” mistyped on line 7-8 of page 211. Bound in teal cloth boards with title and author’s name blind-stamped to front board and gilt lettering to spine. Book runs 218pp., and measures 5.5″ x 7.75″. Minor shelf wear and discoloration to half-title page, overall in very good plus condition for book. Light chipping to spine of jacket, and small losses on spine and upper front portion expertly restored, as well as light edgewear. Also in very good plus condition. Housed in custom blue morocco slipcase. A very seldom-encountered true first printing of an enduring classic. Sold for $84,000.
Harry Potter Philosopher’s Stone 1st Printing Hardback
The most coveted book in the Harry Potter canon, the first edition, first printing hardback of J.K. Rowling’s first novel, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”. This book is one of only 500 hardback copies published in the first printing, more scarce and collectible than the softcover published at the same time. Sold for $53,550.
Rare first edition, first printing of one of the most desired books in the history of literature, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ”The Great Gatsby,” published by Charles Scribner’s Sons: New York: 1925, with the nearly impossible to find first printing dustjacket. Every point is present: 1925 is printed on title page; Charles Scribner’s Sons logo appears on the copyright page with no subsequent printing statements; ”chatter” appears on page 60; ”northern” appears on page 119; ”it’s” is printed on line 16 of page 165; ”sick in tired” is found on page 205; ”Union Street station” is mistyped on line 7-8 of page 211. Bound in dark green cloth boards with title and author’s name blind-stamped to front board and gilt lettering to spine. Francis Cugat’s scarce original unrestored first printing dustjacket has the lowercase ”j” in ”jay Gatsby” on the back panel hand-corrected in ink. Sold for $50,000.
Ayn Rand first edition, signed copy of “Anthem.”
Alice O’Connor (born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum; February 2, [O.S. January 20] 1905 – March 6, 1982), better known by her pen name Ayn Rand (/aɪn/), was a Russian-American writer and philosopher. She is known for her fiction and for developing a philosophical system she named Objectivism. Born and educated in Russia, she moved to the United States in 1926. She wrote a play that opened on Broadway in 1935. After two early novels that were initially unsuccessful, she achieved fame with her 1943 novel, The Fountainhead. In 1957, Rand published her best-known work, the novel Atlas Shrugged. Afterward, until her death in 1982, she turned to non-fiction to promote her philosophy, publishing her own periodicals and releasing several collections of essays.
Hardcover with dustjacket. Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, LTD.: 1953. Copy given to Nathaniel Branden, her purported protege and lover. Signed and inscribed by Rand in blue ink, “To Barbara and Nathan – – who are now fully my children – to mark your first six-months wedding anniversary – Ayn / July 14, 1953.” Book, which measures 6″x 8.5″, runs 105pp. Thinly-veiled sci-fi-ish allegory supports Rand’s classic Objectivist thesis regarding the subjugation of the ego for the greater whole of society. Dust jacket in near fine condition with minor chips at top. Slight cloth board spotting and very mild toning to interior. A near-perfect signed Ayn Rand first edition copy. Our most expensive Ayn Rand first edition that we have handled. Sold for $22,500.
J.K. Rowling Signed First Edition, First Printing Harry Potter Signed Book — “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” — With PSA/DNA COA
Extremely rare J.K. Rowling signed first edition, first printing Harry Potter signed book: “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” Bloomsbury: London: 1997. The author signs the dedication page “To Bryony / with best wishes / JK Rowling”. A true first edition, it features the number line 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 on the copyright page, and the first printing misprint on page 53 of “1 wand” listed twice, as well as the Wendy Cooling cover quote: “A terrific read and a stunning first novel”. Indeed, this first of Rowling’s wildly successful Harry Potter book series was published later in the U.S. under the title “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Its film adaption became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. Issued as a paperback, novel runs 223pp. and measures 5″ x 8″. Toning to leaves and edges. Rubbing to spine edges and creasing to hinges, else near fine. With PSA/DNA COA. Sold for $17,000.
First Edition Set of Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” — “Fellowship of the Ring” & “Return of the King” Are First Printings; “Two Towers” Is Second Printing — All Three Are Near Fine
Very rare first edition, early printing set of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd., 1954 & 1955. All three are in extraordinarily near fine condition for both the books and their original dust jackets. “The Fellowship of the Ring” is a first edition, first printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. With signature mark “4” at the bottom of page 49. Original dust jacket priced “21s net”. “The Two Towers” is a first edition, second printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. Original dust jacket priced “21s net”. “The Return of the King” is a first edition, first printing (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1955) with map attached to rear flyleaf. Signature mark “4” present on page 49, and all lines of type sag in the middle. Publisher’s red cloth with gilt spine titles. Original dust jacket priced “21s net”. All measure 5.75″ x 9″ with top edges red. A beautiful set with only minor edge wear, toning to endpapers and very light wear to jackets. One of the nicest “Lord of the Rings” sets available. Sold for $14,588.
James Joyce Autograph and an Henri Matisse Autograph in a Scarce Limited Edition of “Ulysses”
Scarce copy of “Ulysses” rare book by James Joyce, illustrated by Henri Matisse. New York: The Limited Editions Club: 1935. Number 297 of a limited edition run of 1500 copies. One of only 250 such copies signed by both Joyce and Matisse. Boldly signed by the author and illustrator on limitation page. Full brown buckram boards with gilt embossing to front cover and backstrip. Large octavo measures 9″ x 11.5″. Volume runs 420pp. with an introduction by Stuart Gilbert and illustrations by Henri Matisse including 20 reproductions of preliminary drawings and six original soft-ground etchings. In 1935 George Macy, founder of the fledgling Limited Editions Club, made the bold decision to commission Matisse to illustrate Joyce’s controversial and previously banned masterpiece, “Ulysses.” Matisse, understanding that Joyce’s work parodied the original eighteen episodes of the “Odyssey,” chose to create his 26 full-page illustrations as actual illustrations of Homer’s original work. Matisse later signed all 1500 of Macy’s limited edition, however, as legend has it, when Joyce realized that Matisse had been working from Homer’s “Odyssey” rather than his novel, he refused to sign any more than the 250 copies he had already signed making this double-signed edition exceedingly rare. Rare book without original slipcase, else fine condition. Sold for $14,460.
James Joyce “Ulysses” First Edition From 1922 — #877 of the 1,000 Copies in the Rare First Edition
James Joyce’s magnum opus “Ulysses”, the first edition limited to 1,000 copies, of which this is #877 — one of the 750 copies printed on handmade paper in its distinct teal paper wrappers, here bound into contemporary half-linen boards. Paris: Shakespeare and Company, 1922. Interestingly, the date of publication for “Ulysses” was intended for Joyce’s birthday, 2 February 1922, but only two copies were printed that day, both from the batch of 750 copies printed on handmade paper, of which this is one. Following later in February were more of the 750 copies before the copies 1-250 were printed; therefore, although the 750 run is numerically higher, it actually precedes the others in printing priority. Book measures 7.5″ x 9.5″ and spans 732pp., with prospectus advertising the novel’s publication “in the Autumn of 1921”, affixed to front free endpaper. Newspaper photograph of Dublin also taped to front pastedown. Separation starting to front joint, but book itself, contained between teal wrappers is very good to near fine. One of the most influential books of 20th century modernist literature. Sold for $11,025.
First Edition, Third Printing of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Second Novel, “The Beautiful and Damned” — With a Charming Inscription to Actor Edward Everett Horton
Signed and inscribed first edition, third printing of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Beautiful and Damned.” New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons: 1922. Fitzgerald’s second novel paints a vivid portrait of the Eastern elite during the Jazz Age in America. Copy is inscribed by Fitzgerald on the front free endpaper: “This book oddly enough is responsible from its title for the phrase ‘beautiful and dumb.’ I doubt if it has any other distinction. For Edward Everett Horton from F. Scott Fitzgerald / Encino 1939.” In publisher’s original green cloth boards with some soiling. Includes a later printing dustjacket from the A.L. Burt edition with minor wear. Very good condition. Sold for $10,781.
Ernest Hemingway Signed First Limited Edition of ”A Farewell to Arms” — Scarce in Original Slipcase
Ernest Hemingway signed limited first edition of his post-WWI classic, ”A Farewell to Arms”, housed in its original limited edition slipcase, with numbers matching. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1929. Published on 27 September 1929 in a limited edition of 510 numbered copies, this being #214, signed boldly ”Ernest Hemingway” in black fountain pen. In matching slipcase with Charles Scribner’s Sons plate, again listing the limited edition as #214. Measures 6.5” x 9.5”. Some chipping to seams of slipcase, overall in very good condition. Chipping to spine label, otherwise book is near fine. Sold for $10,313.
Hammett’s “The Thin Man” Inscribed 1st Edition
Scarce signed and inscribed copy of “The Thin Man” by Dashiell Hammett. New York: Alfred A. Knopf: 1934. First edition, first printing with red variant dust jacket with front flap reviews. Boldly inscribed, “For Dan and Peggy / with my best regards / Dashiell Hammett / New York / Sept. 23, 1934.” A rare copy of Hammett’s hardboiled detective novel which became the basis for the successful film series starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. Minor fading and soiling to decorative green cloth boards (oxidation of green dye that was used in first edition printings has resulted in light green cloth boards). Moderate wear to unclipped dust jacket. Overall, very good condition. Sold for $9,600.
Ian Fleming Signed First Edition, First Impression of “Goldfinger” in Original Dust Jacket — Near Fine Condition — With University Archives COA
Pristine first edition, first impression of “Goldfinger”, signed by author Ian Fleming without inscription, housed in its original dust jacket with 15s. net price intact. London: Jonathan Cape, 1959. Considered the finest novel in the James Bond canon, Fleming’s large, bold signature appears on the front free endpaper in blue ballpoint, inside the famous boards of a skull with $50 gold coins for eyes. Book is near fine with no significant flaws, housed in a near fine jacket, and then further housed in a custom clamshell case. With University Archives COA. A must have addition for the Bond aficionado. Sold for $9,450.
Dashiell Hammett First Edition The Thin Man
Dashiell Hammett The Thin Man first edition signed. New York: Alfred A. Knopf: 1934. First edition, first printing rare book. Hardcover sans dustjacket. Blue ink inscription on ffep reads: “For Paul Hollister / with best regards / Dashiell Hammett / New York / January 6, 1934.” First printing copy of the very first in Hammett’s iconic series of Nick and Nora detective books, which in turn inspired various movie adaptations, including those starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. Book, measuring 5″ x 7.5″, runs 260pp. Inscription bold and legible, but suffers slightly from ink bleed. Cloth boards feature a stylish theater mask printed in blue ink on the front cover and excellent red and blue spine design. A large but light stain on the front cover and some shelf wear to bottom edges, very mild interior toning, but overall bright. An excellent copy in very good condition. Sold for $9,433.
Scarce Signed Copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ”The Great Gatsby”
Coveted signed copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece novel, ”The Great Gatsby.” Modern Library: New York, 1934, which included the first appearance of the author’s new introduction. Signed and inscribed by Fitzgerald to actor Ned Griffith: ”For Ned Griffith / from his friend / F. Scott Fitzgerald / Hollywood 1939”. Fitzgerald’s new introduction to ”Gatsby” reads in part: ”…I think it is an honest book, that is to say, that one used none of one’s virtuosity to get an effect, and, to boast again, one soft-pedalled the emotional side to avoid the tears leaking from the socket of the left eye…” In original publisher’s blue cloth boards with gilt lettering to spine, though sun-faded in spots. The Modern Library torchbearer emblem is stamped in gilt on front board and the endpapers are printed in orange. With a ”Stanley Rose Bookshop” ticket affixed to rear pastedown. Lower corner of front board is bumped and a tiny .25” hole appears to lower corner of front free endpaper; overall, book is in very good condition. Includes original dustjacket in fair condition, with price clipped, significant chips and some paper loss. An incredibly rare signed copy of Fitzgerald’s great novel, with a still bold inscription and signature. Provenance from Heritage Auctions in 2011. Sold for $9,375.
Louisa May Alcott signed ”Little Women,” published by Roberts Brothers: Boston 1880. Impossible to find, the author’s signature within her masterpiece reads: ”L.M. Alcott” upon the fly-leaf. An Alcott signed instance of ”Little Women” has not been sold at auction in over 4 decades. First published in 1869, Alcott’s spellbinding novel about four sisters coming of age in the Civil War era has since become a classic. This edition is bound in hunter green cloth boards with gilt and black lettering and design. All edges gilt. Measures 7” x 8.5”. Surface loss to exterior corners and edges. Cracking to interior front hinge, with detached front free endpaper. A bookplate affixed to the front pastedown indicates this volume was gifted to the Brookline Public Library in 1917. In addition, the library’s perforated label appears at the bottom of the title page. A news clipping of Alcott’s obituary has been affixed to integral blanks. A label affixed to the rear pastedown reads: ”This book is for use in the library building only” and a barcode label has been partially removed from the rear free endpaper, else very good. With PSA/DNA COA. Sold for $8,908.
Lovely first edition set of Mark Twain’s ”Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and ”Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, bound in publisher’s rarer and generally more desirable blue cloth with gilt accenting. ”Tom Sawyer” is a first edition, second printing (Hartford: American Publishing, 1876) while ”Huckleberry Finn” is a first edition, first printing (New York: Charles L. Webster, 1885). ”Tom Sawyer” printing points include half-title and frontis on same leaf, and no type damage on ”furniture to” on last line of page 17, found in the 3rd and later printings. One of only 748 copies with all edges gilt. All first printing points for ”Huckleberry Finn” are present including the most important table cloth visible underneath the bust of Twain with ”Heliotype Printing Co.” imprint. Both books measure 7” x 8.75”. Light rubbing and shelf wear to both and some internal foxing. ”Tom Sawyer” is in very good condition with the front hinge starting. ”Huckleberry Finn” is in very good plus condition. Internally, both are clean and free of any writing. A very attractive set with the blue cloth still bold and vibrant. Sold for $8,750.
John Steinbeck “Cup of Gold” 1st Edition
First printing of John Steinbeck’s first book, “Cup of Gold”. New York: McBride, 1929. One of only 1,537 copies printed, this volume still retains the very rare unclipped first edition dust jacket, showing the original price of $2.50. First edition has matching dates of 1929 on the title and copyright pages, and with “First Published, August, 1929″ at the top of the copyright page. Measures 5.5″ x 8”. Very handsome copy is bound in yellow-gold cloth stamped in black, with top edge blue. Very light soiling and wear to book, otherwise near fine. Dust jacket is restored for display by noted conservator John Pofelski, otherweise near fine condition. Sold for $8,743.
First Edition, First Printing of Robert Louis Stevenson’s ”Treasure Island” in Near Fine Condition — With Check Signed by Stevenson to His Stepson & Co-Author S. Lloyd Osbourne
Robert Louis Stevenson’s first edition, first printing of his classic ”Treasure Island”. London, Paris & New York: Cassel & Co, Ltd., 1883. With all first printing points present: ”dead man’s chest” not capitalized on pp. 2 and 7; ”rain” for ”vain” in the last line of p. 40; the ”a” is not present in line 6 on p. 63; the ”7” is bolder and slightly raised in the pagination on p. 127; lacking the period following ”opportunity” in line 20 of p. 178; ”worse” rather than ”worst” in line 3 on page 197; frontispiece map in four colors. Octavo measures 5.25” x 7.75” with four pages of ads at rear dated ”5R-1083” and incorrectly listing ”Treasure Island” as having 304 pages, as called for in the first printing. In publisher’s full green cloth with gilt spine titles, in near fine condition with only the slightest overall wear, expert repair to hinges and foxing to front free endpaper and half-title page. Housed in a custom one-quarter leather clamshell box over marbled boards. Accompanying the book is a signed check from Stevenson to S. Lloyd Osbourne, Stevenson’s stepson with whom he co-authored three books. Check is dated 8 August 1887 for ”ten pounds sterling”. 8” x 3.25” check is in very good condition with toning and a line drawn through Stevenson’s signature. A lovely first printing of ”Treasure Island” with accompanying signed check. Sold for $8,400.
Ernest Hemingway Signed “Men Without Women” — Dedicated in His Hand to the Son of Renowned Actress Helen Hayes
Ernest Hemingway signed “Men Without Women”, Charles Scribner’s Sons: New York: 1955. Hemingway’s autograph dedication to the front free endpaper is to the son of actress Helen Hayes and reads in full: “To Jim MacArthur / With best wishes from his friend / Ernest Hemingway / Finca Vigia / San Francisco de Paula / Cuba”. Hemingway’s short story collection is bound in oatmeal cloth boards with gilt lettering and black print to spine. Measures 5.25″ x 7.5″. Cocking to spine, mild sunning to backstrip and wear to spine ends, else near fine. From the estate of Helen Hayes. Sold for $8,160.
Signed First Edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Acclaimed Debut Novel “This Side of Paradise” — “…to write it took three months; to conceive it — three minutes; to collect the data in it — all my life…”
Rare F. Scott Fitzgerald signed first edition, third printing of “This Side of Paradise”. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons: 1920. One of approximately 500 copies with a tipped-in “Author’s Apology” leaf boldly signed in pen, “Sincerely / F. Scott Fitzgerald”. Prepared for an American Booksellers Association convention, Fitzgerald’s signed “Apology” reads: “I don’t want to talk about myself because I’ll admit I did that somewhat in this book. In fact, to write it took three months; to conceive it — three minutes; to collect the data in it — all my life. The idea of writing it came on the first of last July: it was a substitute form of dissipation. My whole theory of writing I can sum up in one sentence: An author ought to write for the youth of his own generation, the critics of the next, and the schoolmasters of ever afterward. So, gentlemen, consider all the cocktails mentioned in this book drunk by me as a toast to the American Booksellers Association. May, 1920″. Hardcover book, without dustjacket, is in original teal-cloth boards and measures 5.5″ x 7.5”. “S” in Fitzgerald’s “Sincerely” is slightly smudged. Very good. Sold for $8,000.
Ian Fleming “You Only Live Twice” Signed First Edition — Scarce
Ian Fleming signed first edition of “You Only Live Twice”, published by Jonathan Cape: London: 1964. Fleming’s autograph inscription appears on the front free endpaper, “To Jane From Ian Fleming”. Second printing of Fleming’s eleventh James Bond novel runs 256pp. Bound in black cloth boards with silver lettering. Measures 5.25″ x 7.5″. Light soiling and wear to boards and cocking to spine. Very good overall. Dustjacket shows toning, some paper loss to spine ends and corners, and remnants of tape repairs to verso. Very good. Housed in a black slipcase. Sold for $7,717.
Ernest Hemingway signed presentation copy of ”The Old Man and the Sea”, the novel perhaps most responsible for Hemingway’s Nobel Prize in Literature awarded in 1954, the same year he signed this copy. Hemingway writes in bold blue ink, ”For Ian / with much affection / Ernest Hemingway. / Laitokotok 1954”. The recipient is Ian Richard Whichello, a policeman in Kenya at the time of the inscription, and the place, Laitokotok, is a town in Kenya near Amboselli National Park – the site of Mount Kilimanjaro, which Hemingway and his wife visited in January 1954. Shortly after this visit the Hemingways would survive two well-known plane crashes, after which Whichello might have attended to them, given the personal nature of the inscription here. Copy published in London by the Reprint Society, 1953, with decorative illustrations throughout including the large marlin on the endpapers. Bound in teal cloth boards with silver lettering and embellishments to boards. Measures 6.25” x 8.75”. Whichello’s name on front free endpaper, a bit of foxing to endpapers and minimal expert restoration to spine. A stunning copy in very good plus condition with a bold and interesting inscription by Hemingway. Sold for $7,500.
First Edition, First Printing of “Lolita” by Vladimir Nobokov
First edition, first printing of Vladimir Nabokov’s “Lolita”. Paris: The Olympia Press, 1955. Two-volume set each measures 4.5″ x 7″. Soft green covers with “Francs : 900” to rear covers indicates first printing. After being turned down by four American publishers, Nabokov allowed The Olympia Press in Paris to print this cultural milestone, with the first printing of 5,000 copies quickly selling out. Shortly after publication, “Lolita” was banned in France for three years until 1959. Some soiling and wear to covers, with an approximate 2″ piece of paper loss on Volume II, otherwise near fine with bright interiors. Housed in a custom clamshell box. Sold for $2,188.
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