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 impression (with Random House's standard number line commencing with '2'), number 17 of 50 special copies for presentation, signed & inscribed by the author, 8vo, original cloth, slightly dulled at spine but otherwise very good, plastic jacket and slip-case.
£950 -
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 -
First edition, 8vo, original cloth, dust-jacket, some light superficial soiling, spine partly darkened with small abrasion but overall a very good example.
£330 -
First edition, 8vo, title printed in red & black with woodcut device, 10pp. advertisements, foxing to terminal ff., publisher's decorative cloth, blocked and lettered in white to upper cover, spine lettered in gilt, an attractive copy.
£400 -
First edition, 8vo, frontispiece portrait of the author, device on title, 5pp. advertisements, bookplate on front free endpaper, original cloth, slightly sunned at spine with some minor discolouration to lower cover, otherwise a very good copy.
£875 -
First edition, 8vo, contemporary ownership inscription on front pastedown, original brown cloth, dust-jacket designed by Edward Bawden, old reinforcements to inside at spine-ends and one corner, 3 small closed tears, some slight edge-wear to extremities with a couple of minor marks, otherwise a very good copy.
£650 -
First edition, 8vo, bookseller's small label on front pastedown, publisher's rust-brown cloth tooled and lettered in green, dust-jacket designed by Theyre Lee-Elliott, slightly darkened at spine with small closed tears and fraying to spine ends, but overall a very good example.
£250 -
First edition, 8vo, 160pp., half-page and vignette illustrations within text, fine, publisher's green cloth, slightly age-toned, illustrated dust-jacket, price clipped, a little rubbing to head of spine, otherwise a near-fine copy.
£475 -
First edition; 8vo; publisher's blue cloth, printed paper label, Ex-Libris to upper pastedown, in exceptionally fine state, preserved in folding chemise and custom slip-case.
£1,950
