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; 8vo; bookplate removed from front pastedown, overall internally in fine condition; publisher's cloth, an attractive, sharp and undulled copy, in the original first issue dust-jacket correctly priced at 7'6, browning to spine, small closed tears to corners, otherwise a very good example.
£3,500 -
First edition, signed by the Author in the first month following publication; 'John Fowles, May 5th, 1963', 8vo, publisher's rust-coloured cloth, spine gilt, first state pictorial dust-jacket with a design by Tom Adams, top edge stained magenta, light age-toning and rubbing to extremities, otherwise a very good and fresh copy of Fowles' acclaimed first novel.
£1,100 -
First edition, 8vo, frontispiece and 3 plates by James McBryde, 16pp. advertisements dated November 1904, small closed tear to top edge of frontispiece, some minor marking including a few dark spots (ýectoplasm) affecting 4 ff., overall internally very good, publisher's oatmeal cloth ruled in red and lettered in black, with yapp edges, some darkening otherwise a very good copy, text-block partly uncut.
£2,500 -
First edition, small 8vo, plates by Albert Levering, some minor toning, contemporary personal library sticker to front pastedown, original pictorial cloth.
£150 -
First edition, folio, drawings by Richard Giglio, full page photographs by the author, publisher's pictorial stiff wrappers, very minor wear, otherwise near-fine.
£750 -
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 -
FIRST EDITION, no. 3 of six numbered copies of 50 COPIES ON PALE GREEN-TINTED PAPER, from an overall limitation of 850; 8vo; title previously detached cleanly at gutter now with neat reversible tissue paper repair to verso, chip from fore-edge of a preliminary blank leaf, slight separation at upper hinge, bookplate to front pastedown; publisher's black cloth lettered in gilt on the spine and with triangular gilt design on upper cover, top edge gilt, presented in morocco-backed, cloth drop-back box.
£3,500 -
![Dodie Smith, [Autobiography], 4 vols, signed presentation first editions - 1](http://beta.shapero.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1bbe0f863922f091e1b357048c86d01e/9/8/98213.jpg)
4 volumes, first editions, all signed presentation copies from the author, 8vo., photographic plates, publisher's boards, dust-jackets, first vol. neatly price-clipped but overall fine copies.
£1,250 -
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
