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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 published edition, sole printing; contents spotted especially early and late; single quire wire-stitched into cream wrappers printed in black, staples rusted but perfectly sound, wrappers a little marked and sunned, otherwise a very good example; 56pp.
£3,250 -
First edition, first impression; 8vo; publisher's white cloth, titles to spine in magenta, pale blue endpapers, minor cockling to the free endpapers, couple of smudges to the perilous white cloth, with the dust jacket, somewhat marked and lightly chipped with a small puncture to the front panel.
£1,250 -
First UK edition, first impression, inscribed by the author on front free endpaper; 8vo; publisher's brown boards, titles to spine gilt, pink topstain, spine slightly rolled; in the somewhat tanned dust jacket, a touch faded at the spine.
£1,250 -
First edition, one of 500 copies, inscribed by the author; 8vo; unmarked internally; original dark grey wrappers, stitched as issued, black lettering to upper cover, light wear to extremities, unopened and uncut, with NPG tissue wrapping with label.
£1,250 -
First edition, inscribed by the author to Sacheverell Sitwell; 8vo; scattered light foxing; publisher's emerald green cloth, gilt lettering to spine, with the unclipped dustjacket, slightly marked with some light wear to the lower edge, otherwise a very good copy.
£375 -
First edition, inscribed by the author to Sacheverell Sitwell; 8vo; frontispiece tipped in, unmarked internally; publisher's green cloth, orange paper label to spine, lettered in black, with the unclipped pictorial dustjacket, dustjacket marked, with some edge nicks and two neat tape repairs to inside top of jacket, otherwise a very good clean copy.
£475 -
First edition, inscribed by the author to Sacheverell Sitwell; 8vo; slight marginal toning to leaves, otherwise unmarked internally; publisher's green boards, black lettering to upper cover, with the unclipped dustjacket, slightly worn and marked, with the NPG tissue wrapping with label.
£475 -
First edition, first impression, inscribed by the author to Sacheverell Sitwell; 8vo; light offsetting to endpapers, otherwise unmarked internally; publisher's brown printed boards, spine and upper cover lettered in black, slight spotting to edges, with the unclipped peach dustjacket, title printed in blue within elaborate border, floral device to upper cover, with the NPG tissue wrapping with label.
£475 -
First edition, first printing, first state binding; 8vo; marginal tear to one leaf, seemingly in production; publisher's quarter bound blue cloth binding with light grey paper-covered boards, titles to upper board in black, cream paper title label to spine printed in black, with the dust jacket; a superb copy in the professionally repaired dust jacket with small restoration here and there.
£1,250 -
First complete edition, first impression, first issue; 8vo; mild partial browning to the endpapers; publisher's green cloth, titles to upper board and spine gilt, green topstain, with the dust jacket; an exceptional copy in the dust jacket.
£975
Contact us for more information about Modern First Editions