What are the highest prices that have been paid for collectible copies of post-World War II American novels?
June 1, 2010 2:20 PM

What are the highest prices that have been paid for collectible copies of post-World War II American novels?

I saw this beaut and it got me wondering.
posted by Joe Beese to Media & Arts (3 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
Not sure if it is the highest, but $3.8m has to be up there somewhere:
On 15 December 2007, Sotheby's auctioned a limited edition copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, written by J.K. Rowling. Although expected to make just $98,350, the book was purchased for a hammer price of $3,835,980 by London fine art dealers Hazlitt, Gooden and Fox on behalf of Amazon.com. The novel, which contained children's stories, was originally mentioned in the Harry Potter novel series. J.K. Rowling finished the actual story in late 2007. Only seven copies are in existence, each version unique by its cover. Six were given away as gifts to those close to her, while the remaining "moonstone edition" was sent up for auction with proceeds going to the The Children's Voice charity. Each leather bound copy was hand written and illustrated by J.K. Rowling. (from here.)
posted by griphus at 3:02 PM on June 1, 2010


Abebooks keeps track of the most expensive sales they make each month in their Rare Book Room. In May they sold a copy of Theodore Roosevelt's first address to Congress for 25k. Of course, that's neither post WWII nor a novel.

That Pynchon book is crazy. I can't imagine they'll get that much for it.
posted by clockbound at 4:57 PM on June 1, 2010


Signed first editions of To Kill A Mockingbird will run upwards of $20,000.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 5:29 PM on June 1, 2010


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