Auction Consignment For Modern First Editions
Sell Choice First Editions & CollectionsConsign your first edition books at our specialized auctions
online auctionS & CONSIGNMENT
Sell First Edition Books at Auction
Modern First Editions
We focus on online auctions for rare and sought after first edition books with an interest in 20th century authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Walt Whitman, Mark Twain, John Steinbeck, J.D. Salinger, Harper Lee, Stephen King and others.
Sell Collections of First Editions
Our auctions are ideal for larger collections of first editions, too.
We regularly handle the sale of first edition collections and can even provide a dedicated auction just for your collection, depending upon the quantity of books. Inquire to see how we can help.
Please bear in mind that acceptable first editions would be those determined to be collectible, desirable and rare, as well as being categorized in generally very good to fine condition.
If you’re local to the Phoenix, Arizona area, we can also arrange for a free pickup of your books.
First Edition Books Auction Results
Prices achieved at our past online auctions
Harper Lee “To Kill a Mockingbird” 1960 First Edition in First State Dust Jacket
$5,000 – $6,000
$6,150
Ernest Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises”, 1926 First Edition
$10,000 – $12,000
$14,739
Margaret Mitchell Signed “Gone With the Wind”, 1936 First Edition, First Printing
$8,000 – $10,000
$7,380
Ernest Hemingway “The Old Man And The Sea”, 1952 First Edition, First Printing
$750 – $1,000
$2,337
Truman Capote Signed “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” 1958 First Edition, First Printing
$3,000 – $4,000
$3,997
John Steinbeck “Cannery Row”, 1945 First Edition, First Printing
$75 – $100
$156
Pearl S. Buck Signed “Yu Lan, Flying Boy of China”, First Edition 1944
N / A
$350
Harper Lee Signed “To Kill A Mockingbird”, 1995 35th Anniversary Edition
N / A
$447
Quick Tips on First Editions
Guide to Selling First Edition Books
What makes a first edition book rare?
In a nutshell: Supply, demand, and condition.
Keep in mind that a book can be very rare and not be valuable in the least.
Some basic factors that can affect the desirability of a first edition:
- First edition, first printing
- Original dust jacket
- Noted or influential author
- Signed by the author
- Published in a limited edition
- Owned by someone famous
- Very fine condition
Does scarcity determine value?
Scarcity doesn’t always equate to desirability – this is an important distinction.
Just because a book is scarce, doesn’t automatically mean it is valuable. If there is demand for that book, and it is scarce – then the value becomes higher.
Are all first edition books valuable?
This is actually a simple question to answer: No.
In general, most first edition books have very little value. If you do have a first edition that appears to have value it is also important to find out if it is a first printing. We would be happy to help you find out.
Also worth taking into consideration is a potentially valuable first edition book but without its dust jacket.
Did you know that an original dust jacket can sometimes equate to over 70% of the value of a first edition book?
How to value first edition books?
When researching the value of a first edition book online, it’s important to take the prices available on bookselling websites (like AbeBooks, Biblio, Amazon, etc.) with a grain of salt.
The prices listed online are (almost) always the seller’s asking price, which can range from on-point to ridiculous.
Researching historical auction records is one of the best ways to discover the auction value of your first edition book.
It’s also critical to compare your book to a sold book that is in the same condition as your copy, as condition plays a major role in value.
How important is condition?
The physical condition of a first edition book is a major factor in its value. The most desirable copy of a book is typically that which is as close as possible to its original condition upon publication.
Why sell first edition books at auction?
Selling a first edition book at auction exposes your item to bidders worldwide with a specific interest in first edition books.
An auction house will also be able to market a collectible book to appropriate buyers to help achieve a fitting price on the open market. We aggressively market to our extensive collector database plus expand the reach to 90,000+ specific bidders worldwide.
Need help selling your first edition or collection?
Just remember that at the end of the day, like any specialized subject, it takes years of experience to really be able to evaluate a first edition book.
If you’re interested in consignment, we offer free auction evaluations to help you make an educated decision on what next steps to take regarding your first edition book or collection.