Modern First Editions
This has been the biggest growth area of collecting and dealing in the last decade. Prices have rocketed for many of the classics of 20th Century literature and the over-riding factor in determining any modern firsts value is its condition and, most significantly, the absence/presence of the original dust-jacket. Bloomsbury has been at the forefront of this remarkable market movement. Our three dedicated Literature sales (held in March, June and November) include an enormous range of Modern Literature. Indeed these sales have become, according to Book and Magazine Collector "important events in the bookselling calendar".
So what about some examples of dizzying rewards as The Daily Telegraph called them? Bloomsbury still holds the world-record price at auction for a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone at £17,000. Authors such as Virginia Woolf (signed Orlando, £1,600), Graham Greene (Journey without Maps, £2,200), Evelyn Waugh (Vile Bodies, £1,300) and Anthony Powell (A Dance to the Music of Time sequence, £2,000) are collected as supreme 20th Century literary figures. Science-Fiction has a strong following and first editions of works by early Sci-Fi proponents Jules Verne (The Purchase of the North Pole, £1,300) and H.G. Wells (The First Men in the Moon, in its exceptionally rare dust-jacket, £12,000) lead the way. Contemporary or Ultra-modern authors continue to attract amazing prices, particularly for their first or early works Martin Amis The Rachel Papers (signed) made £360; Irvine Welshs Trainspotting (signed) made £600; and Ian McEwans First Love, Last Rites reached £260.
We cover Detective Fiction from Agatha Christie to Ian Rankin; Childrens/Adult works from Tolkien to Milne to Pullman; books that have been made into movies from James Bond to Captain Corelli. If its Biggles you collect or Narnia books you wish to sell, contact Roddy Newlands and he will guide you through the process.
Roddy Newlands
Roddy Newlands is available Monday to Friday for valuations and for any questions regarding Modern First Editions, books on Science & Medicine, Children's & Illustrated books and Hebraica & Judaica that you may have.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7495 9494