Modern First Editions
Modern First Edition books represents one of the most exciting and dynamic areas of book collecting at Shapero Rare Books currently, attracting collectors of literature across a range of ages and catering to a very broad church of tastes and enthusiasms.
The relatively contemporary nature of the authors that tend to be encompassed by the term Modern First Editions (the exact definition of which varies remarkably depending on with whom you speak) means they resonate with many current book collectors. Collecting modern first editions appeals equally to those with established book collections and those just beginning to start building their own collections, and the vast variety of price-points allows for collectors at all levels a point of entry.
Literature, particularly that of the 19th & 20th centuries, has branched out into a wealth of sub-genres, notably, perhaps science fiction, detective fiction, horror & gothic, weird & supernatural literature, and this is mirrored by collecting habits. Collectors of modern first editions can range from those seeking perceived high-spots of 20th & 21st-century fiction to those who are thrilled by dust-jacketed genre titles, runs of prize-winning books (such as the Booker Prize), solely inscribed books and individual author collections.
For similar reasons modern fiction can also make for very good gifts, particularly signed and inscribed books by popular (or even highly specialised) authors.
Modern First Editions to Collect
Collecting first editions can be fun and challenging, but if you would like to find out more please contact our specialists Adam Blakeney and Angus Robb. They will be more than happy to advise you further, and their knowledge of issue points, condition factors and relative scarcity should help those both looking to start collecting or further develop upon existing rare books collections.
If you're in possession of a first edition to sell, please contact us for more information.
See below to buy first edition books, available at Shapero
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First edition, first printing, signed presentation copy from the author; 8vo; toning to free endpapers; publisher's cloth, slight rolling to spine, otherwise a very good copy, dust-jacket tanned and rubbed lacking very small pieces at the ends of the spine panel and with slight tanning to same, but overall very good.
£675 -
First edition, 8vo, neat contemporary ink name to front free endpaper, internally fine, publisher's cloth, dust-jacket with still of Laurence Olivier in character, usual slight toning to spine but overall a fine example.
£120 -
First edition, this copy unnumbered but stated 'Presentation Copy' on limitation page, with 34 signatures (plus one faded) on front and rear endleaves, 4to. 224pp., photographic reproductions of actors and film posters, publisher's quarter tan leather over grey cloth, mounted with a facsimile of the poster for the film of 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest', a tad rubbed on outer edge of upper cover, otherwise a fine copy.
£450 -
Early film tie-in edition (18th impression), small 8vo, original red cloth, very good, printed orange dust-jacket, slight loss to head of spine, small chip to foot of spine upper fore-corner, but overall a very pleasing, neat copy.
£220 -
First edition, 8vo, publisher's boards, dust-jacket, slight toning to spine but overall very good.
£85 -
Readers Library film tie-in edition, first thus, 8vo, original gilt-tooled cloth, pictorial wrap-around dust-jacket depicting the film's star Harold Lloyd, some wear & tear.
£90 -
First edition, 8vo., [i-ii,] iii-iv, 1-218, [219], [220, blank]pp., pictorial frontispiece and endpapers by Rob Beebe, publisher's orange cloth lettered in black, pictorial dust-jacket, also by Beebe, closed tears to base of upper panel and corner of rear one, rubbed at extremities, spine-ends chipped, otherwise good to very good.
£500 -
First U.K. MGM edition, small 8vo., eight full-page photographic stills from the film, tone but clean, publisher's red cloth boards gilt, pictorial dust-jacket, illustrated on both panels, small chips to spine extremities and corners, otherwise very good and bright.
£125 -
First edition, first issue (no mention of later printings but with textual errors corrected), 8vo,. publisher's black cloth, spine lettered and stamped in gilt, gilt vignette stamped on front cover, spine faintly dulled, first issue dust-jacket without the two line credit on the front flap, printed in magenta, small areas of professional, historic restoration to top corners of spine-head and folds, spine panel very faintly sunned, minor edge-wear, otherwise a superior copy both internally and externally.
£11,750 -
First edition, 8vo., publisher's grey cloth, usual age toning, pictorial dust-jacket printed in mustard-yellow and black, a little rubbed at extremities, rear panel a little dust-soiled, otherwise very good.
£475
