That was a great sale.
A rare first edition of Mary Shelley’s classic novel “Frankenstein” – one of only three in existence – has sold at auction for a spine-chilling $843,750.
The 1818 edition of the groundbreaking book (full title “Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus”) was the highlight of a Heritage Auctions sale featuring works from the 15,000-volume collection of rare book collector William Strutz, who died earlier this year.
“This auction establishes Heritage as the premier destination for rare books and manuscripts,” said Francis Wallgren, the auction house’s international director of rare books and manuscripts. It said in a statement.
“This is a single-owner sale that has been 60 years in the making and the outcome is a true testament to the recognition and appreciation of great collectors and the market for the treasures that William Strutz amassed.”
The June 27 auction in Dallas, Texas, also featured other rare pieces from the Strutz Library, including a signed 1925 edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby for $425,000 and a gift copy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit for $300,000, according to a statement from the Heritage Foundation.
Additionally, a copy of Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden, or Life in the Woods” sold for $275,000.
Bidding for “Frankenstein” began at $300,000 but quickly rose in a bidding war.
Strutz purchased the book in 1975, making it the only copy in private hands; the other two are in the Pforzheimer and Berg Collection at the New York Public Library.
Wallgren called the late collector’s collection “one of the most important collections of English and American literature to come on the market in recent decades.”
Mr Strutz’s son, Colin, said he was honoured that his father’s treasured book had generated such buzz.
“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this record-breaking day a reality,” he said after the auction. “This auction celebrates my father’s passion, and I look forward to working with Heritage as we continue to tell his story through the books he collected and loved.”
With post wire
