Edward Gorey was an artist whose strangeness found a home, and whose legacy can still be seen today in the imaginations of such contemporary greats as Tim Burton, and perhaps even Neil Gaiman. Edward Gorey was first and foremost an illustrator, whose long-term, successful career with established publishers (primarily Doubleday) allowed him to strike forth on his own as an artist, creating series of children's and young adults picture books (and much more). He was renowned for his dry, dark sense of humour, as well as blending together the comical, surreal, and the gothic.
Collecting Gorey can be difficult, however, as since his unfortunate demise interest in Gorey's estate has exploded exponentially. There are now wide varieties of Gorey-derived items, from jewellery to notebooks, to badges and calendars. How does one start collecting this unique artist then?
One way to start would be true first editions of his most notable works - The Doubtful Guest, The Unstrung Harp, or the Gashley Crumb series. A true first printing, in good condition, could be worth about five hundred dollars, whilst a signed or other personal connection to the artist would add on another few hundred more.
However, with any contemporary artists or writers, there is always a danger that the market becomes saturated with their work. In the case of someone as recent as Gorey (he only passed away in 2000) this is especially true, as the reprint rights to his major works are brought up and beautiful, new editions are commissioned. In one hand it is an enduring testament to how well loved he was as an artist and as a man.
If you want to truly set your Gorey collection apart however, I would consider the work being done by none other than the fine press printers: George Bixby's the Albondocani Press. Through their sporadic career they commissioned The Green Beads a storybook by Gorey, and limited their numbers to just four hundred numbered and signed copies. Published in 1978, they are still available, and can be found for as little as five hundred dollars.
Collecting an artist as unique as Edward Gorey is always done out of love and admiration for their work, rather than market price - and this principle, I feel, will guide more collectors true when considering their next purchase. Consider something as character-full as Gorey's The Bug Book (1960) which can be found for as little as a few hundred dollars for a good condition, first edition hardcover, which should retain both its value and its amusement for a lifetime!
Gorey, Edward. The Unstrung Harp. Duell, Sloan and Pierce, New York (1953). or Mr. Earbrass Writes a Novel; First edition stated on copyright page
Gorey, Edward. The Listing Attic. Duell Sloan and Pearce, New York (1954).
Gorey, Edward. The Doubtful Guest. Doubleday and Company, New York (1957).
Gorey, Edward. The Object Lesson. Doubleday and Company, Inc, New York (1958). Illustrated by Edward Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Bug Book. Looking Glass Library, New York (1959). Limited edition of 600 copies; Pamphlet form
Lurie, Alison. V.R. Lang: A Memoir. Private Edition, Munich (1959). Limited Edition of 300 copies; Wrapper illustration by Edward Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Bug Book. Epstein and Carroll, New York (1960). Color illustrations by Edward Gorey; First Hard Cover Edition;
Gorey, Edward. The Curious Sofa: A Pornographic Work. Ivan Obolensky, New York (1961). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; writing under Pseudonym Ogdred Weary
Anderson, Poul. Three Hearts and Three Lions. Doubleday and Company, Inc, New York (1961). Dust Jacket illustrated by Edward Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Beastly Baby.. Fantod Press, New York (1962). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Writing under Pseudonym Ogdred Weary; Limited Edition of 500 copies; first publication of Gorey's 'Fantod Press' company
Gorey, Edward. The Vinegar Works. Simon and Schuster, New York (1963). Three Volumes of Moral Instruction : The Gashlycrumb Tinies, The Insect God, and The West Wing; 3 volumes
Gorey, Edward. 15 Two / The Nursery Frieze. Fantod Press, New York (1964). Limited Edition of 500 copies
Phypps, Hyacinthe. The Recently Deflowered Girl. Chelsea House, New York (1965). The Right Thing to Say on Every Dubious Occasion; Illustrated by Edward Gorey
Gorey, Edward. Three Books From the Fantod Press. The Fantod Press, New York (1966). The Pious Infant/The Inanimate Tragedy/The Evil Garden; Limited Edition of 500 copies; Illustrated by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Utter Zoo. Meredith Press, New York (1967). An Alphabet
Rees, Ennis. More of Brer Rabbits Tricks. Young Scott Books, New York (1968). Illustrated by Edward Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Blue Aspic. Meredith Press, New York (1968).
Lear, Edward. The Jumblies. Young Scott, New York (1968). Illustrated by Edward Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Fantod Pack. The Owl Press, California (1969). Unauthorized, pirated edition of text which originally appeared in Dec 1966 issue of Esquire
Gorey, Edward. The Iron Tonic. Albondocani Press, New York (1969). or, A Winter Afternoon in Lonely Valley; Limited Edition of 200 numbered copies signed by Gorey (total edition of 226)
Edward Gorey. Donald Has a Difficulty. The Fantod Press, New York (1970). and Neumeyer, Peter F.
Gorey ,Edward. The Sopping Thursday. Gotham Book Mart, New York (1970). Limited Edition of 300 numbered copies signed by author; Deluxe edition of 26 lettered copies (includes original drawing laid in) signed by author; Includes 30 illustrations by Edward Gorey
Gorey, Edward. Three Books from the Fantod Press #2. The Fantod Press, New York (1970). The Chinese Obelisks; The Osbick Bird; Donald Has a Difficulty; illustrated by Edward Gorey; Limited edition of 500 copies
Gorey, Edward. Fletcher And Zenobia Save The Circus. Dodd, Mead and Company, New York (1971). Text by Gorey, illustrated by Victoria Chess
Allais, Alphonse. Story for Sara: What Happened to a Little Girl. Albondocani Press, New York (1971). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Limited Edition of 300 numbered copies signed by Gorey; Deluxe Edition 26 lettered copies signed by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. Three Books from the Fantod Press #3. The Fantod Press, New York (1971). The Deranged Cousins, The Untitled Book, The Eleventh Episode; Limited edition of 500 copies; pamphlet format; Deluxe Edition of 26 lettered copies signed by author
Gorey, Edward. The Salt Herring. Gotham Book Mart and Gallery Inc, New York (1971). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Limited Edition of 300 numbered copies signed by Gorey; Deluxe Edition of 26 lettered copies signed by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. Three Books from the Fantod Press #3. The Fantod Press, New York (1971). The Deranged Cousins Or, Whatever; The Eleventh Episode; [The Untitled Book]
Firbank, Ronald. Two Early Stories. Albondocani Press, New York (1971). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Forward by Miriam J. Benkovitz; The Wavering Disciple and A Study in Opal; Limited Edition of 200 numbered copies; Deluxe Edition of 26 lettered copies
Gorey, Edward. Amphigorey. G.P. Putnams Sons, New York (1972).
Gorey, Edward. Leaves from a Mislaid Album. Gotham Book Mart, New York (1972). Limited Edition of 500 numbered copies; 17 printed cards and envelopes illustrated by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Awdrey-Gore Legacy. Dodd, Mead and Company, New York (1972).
Gorey, Edward. The Vinegar Works. Diogenes, Zurich (1972). Seven Volumes of Moral Instruction; illustrated by Gorey; 4 more volumes than previously issued series under this title (The West Wing, The Gashleycrumb Tinies, The Insect God, The Evil Garden, The Osbick Bird, The Chinese Obelisks and the Untitled Book)
Gorey, Edward. Category. Gotham Book Mart, New York (1973). Fifty Drawings By Edward Gorey; Drawings originally created to accompany limited edition of Amphigorey
Gorey, Edward. Limericks. Houghton Mifflin, Boston (1973). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Limericks by Edward Gorey, Jonn Ciardi, Odgen Nash, Edward Lear, et al.; pamphlet format
Gorey, Edward. Lucky Little People. Scholastic Magazines, New York (1973). Set 1: Rumpelstiltskin and Friends; Punch-out toy puppets and cards illustrated designed by Edward Gorey – Done anonymously, Gorey wasn't given credit
Gorey, Edward. The Black Doll. Gotham Book Mart, New York (1973). A Silent Film; Limited Edition of 100 numbered copies signed by Gorey; Deluxe Edition of 26 lettered copies signed by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Lavender Leotard. Gotham Book Mart, New York (1973). or, Going a Lot to the New York City Ballet; Edition limited to 1000 copies, 100 specially bound copies, and 26 copies signed by the author for personal use
Gorey, Edward. Three Books from the Fantod Press #4. Fantod Press, New York (1973). The Disrespectful Summons; The Abandoned Sock; The Lost Lions; Limited Edition of 500 copies
Moss, Harold. Instant Lives. E.P. Dutton, New York (1974). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Limited Edition of 350 numbered copies signed by author and illustrator
Gorey, Edward. The Glorious Nosebleed. Dodd Mead and Company, New York (1974). Limited Edition of 250 numbered copies signed by Gorey; Deluxe Edition of 26 copies
Wilson, Edmund. The Rats of Rutland Grange. Gotham Book Mart, New York (1974). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Edition limited to 1000 copies; Limited Edition of 100 numbered, clothbound copies signed by Gorey; Deluxe Edition of 26 lettered copies, signed by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. Amphigorey Too. Putnam, New York (1975). Compilation of 19 books; Illustrated by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. An ominous gathering. Diogenes,Zurich (1975). The blue aspic. The other statue. The sinking spell. The remembered visit. The eleventh episode. The fatal lozenge. The utter zoo
Gorey , Edward. L'Heure Bleue. Fantod Press/Gotham Book Mart, New York (1975). 16 color illustrations by Gorey; Limited Edition of 500 numbered copies signed by Gorey; Deluxe edition of 26 lettered copies
Gorey, Edward. Les Passementeries Horribles. Albondocani Press, New York (1976). 14 illustrations by Gorey; Limited Edition of 300 numbered copies; Deluxe Edition of 26 numbered copies; 4 'Out of Series' copies for friends of the publisher; Signed by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Broken Spoke. Dodd Mead and Company, New York (1976). Limited Edition of 250 numbered copies; Deluxe Edition of 26 lettered copies; signed by Edward Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Green Beads. Albondocani Press, New York (1978). Limited Edition of 400 numbered copies; Deluxe Edition of 26 lettered copies; 4 'Out of Series' for personal use by publisher; signed by author
Gorey, Edward. Dracula: A Toy Theatre. Charles Scribners Sons, New York (1979). Arts and Notes of the Broadway production Gorey designed
Gorey, Edward. Hertha Struggs Fifth Christmas. Albondocani Press, New York (1979). Limited Edition of 450 copies; holiday greeting for the artist and publisher
Gorey, Edward. Dancing Cats and Neglected Murderesses. Workman Publishing Company, New York (1980). Limited Edition of 300 numbered copies signed by author; illustrated by gorey
Gorey, Edward. Les Urnes Utiles. Halty-Ferguson Publishing Company, Cambridge (1980). Limited Edition of 400 numbered copies; 26 lettered not-for-sale copies for author and publisher; signed by Gorey; 14 black and white illustrations by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. Die wahnsinnigen Werke des Edward Gorey. Diogenes, Zurich (1981). 33 paperbacks with 44 titles reprinted in German; books were sold separately; Illustrated by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. Ettie Lou Stooper does a tinsel dance at a tree-trimming party in Gumsville, Nebraska, Christmas Eve, 1923. Albondocani Press, New York (1981). 450 copies of greeting card with Gorey illustrations
Gorey, Edward. Le Melange Funeste. Gotham Book Mart, New York (1981). Limited Edition of 500 numbered copies; 26 lettered copies for author and publisher; signed by Gorey; 16 black and white drawings by Gorey
Bensen, D.R. Irene, Good-Night. Targ Editions, New York (1982). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Limited edition of 250 copies signed by author and artist
Lamport, Felicia. Light Metres. Everest House, New York (1982). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Limited Edition of 350 copies; Deluxe edition of 26 lettered copies; signed by author and artist
Gorey, Edward. The Dwindling Party. Random House, New York (1982). Pop-up story; illustrated and written by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Water Flowers. Congdon and Weed, New York (1982).
Gorey, Edward. Amphigorey Also. Congdon and Weed, New York (1983). Illustrated; Limited Edition of 250 numbered copies signed by Gorey; Collection of 17 works including The Epiplectic Bicycle, The Eclectic Abecedarium, LHeure Bleue, The Loathesome Couple, The Awdrey-Gore Legacy, and others
Gorey, Edward. The Prune People. Albondocani Press, New York (1983). Limited Edition of 400 numbered copies signed by Gorey (26 lettered copies for use by author and publisher)
Gorey, Edward. The Tunnel Calamity. G.P. Putnams Sons, New York (1984). Accordian book illustrated with 9 illustrations by Gorey; Part of the 'Magic Windows' book series
Gorey, Edward. Noel chez les volants des Alpes Dolomites. Albondocani Press, New York (1985). 400 copies of a greeting card illustrated by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Prune People II. Albondocani Press, New York (1985). 16 illustrations by Gorey; Limited Edition of 400 numbered copies; signed by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Improvable Landscape. Albondocani Press, New York (1986). Limited Edition of 300 numbered copies; 26 lettered copies; signed by author
Gorey, Edward. In Stubville, Nebraska on December 23, 1911 Christmas tree ornaments fell from a cloudless sky. Albondocani Press and Ampersand Books, New York (1987). limited edition of 400 greeting cards illustrated by Gorey
Beckett, Samuel. Beginning to End. Gotham Book Mart, New York (1988). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; A Selection from the Works of Samuel Beckett; Limited edition of 300 numbered copies signed by author and artist
Gorey, Edward. Q.R.V.. Anne and David Bromer, Boston (1989). Limited Edition of 400 copies (110 of which were 'Deluxe editions' featuring 29 illustrations hand coloured in metallic paints)
Gorey, Edward. The Dripping Faucet. Metacom Press, Worcester, MA (1989). Fourteen Hundred and Fifty Eight Tiny, Tedious, and Terrible Tales; Limited edition of 500 numbered copies (plus 26 lettered copies); signed by author
Gorey, Edward. The Helpless Doorknob. Privately Printed (1989). A Shuffled Story (Set of Story Cards in Case); Limited edition of 500 copies; signed by Gorey; 20 illustrated cards
Gorey, Edward. The Fraught Settee. The Fantod Press, New York (1990). Limited Edition of 500 numbered copies; signed by author
Gorey, Edward. The Stupid Joke. Fantod Press, New York (1990). Written by Edward Gorey, pseudonym of Eduard Blutig, signed by Gorey using the name 'Mrs. Regera Dowdy'; Limited Edition of 500 numbered and signed copies
Gorey, Edward. La Balade Troublante. Fantod Press, New York (1991).
Gorey, Edward. The Dancing Rock / The Floating Elephant. The Fantod Press, New York (1993). Two-way flip book; written by pseudonyms of Edward Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Pointless Book. The Fantod Press, New York (1993). Or, Nature and Art in Two Volumes Bound Together; Written under the pseudonym 'Garrod Weedy'; Limited Edition of 100 numbered copies signed by Gorey as Garrod Weedy
Updike, John. The Twelve Terrors of Christmas. Gotham Book Mart, New York (1993). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Limited Edition of 600 numbered copies (500 wrappers, 100 boards; total edition of 626 copies); signed by John Updike and Edward Gorey
Gorey, Edward. Figbash Acrobate. Fantod Press, New York (1994). Written using pseudonym 'Aedwyrd Gore'; Limited Edition of 526 numbered copies signed by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. The Retrieved Locket. The Fantod Press, New York (1994). Illustrated; Limited Edition of 526 numbered (or lettered) copies; signed by Gorey
Updike, John. The Twelve Terrors of Christmas. Gotham Book Mart, New York (1994). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; First trade edition
Gorey, Edward. The Fantod Pack. Gotham Book Mart, New York (1995). Using pseudonym 'Madame Groeda Weyrd; Limited Edition of 776 (750 numbered, 26 lettered) copies; Second printing limited to 500 copies; signed by Gorey; Includes 20 tarot cards and interpretive booklet in a box
Gorey, Edward. The Unknown Vegetable. The Fantod Press, New York (1995). Limited Edition of 500 numbered copies (plus 26 lettered copies); signed by author; black and white illustrations
Stoker, Bram. Dracula. Barnes and Noble Books, New York (1996). Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Introduction and Appendices by Marvin Kaye; Limited Edition of 750 numbered copies; Including a signed and numbered lithograph by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. Goreyography. Word Play Inc, San Francisco (1996). A Divers Compendium of and Price Guide to the Works of Edward Gorey; contributors: Edward Gorey, Henry Toledano, Jim Weiland, and Malcolm Whyte; Limited edition of 200 numbered copies signed by Gorey; 26 lettered copies signed by all contributors
Ross, Clifford. The World of Edward Gorey. Abrams, New York (1996). And Wilkin, Karen'; Illustrated by Edward Gorey; Limited edition of 300 numbered copies signed by Gorey and authors
Gorey, Edward. The Deadly Blotter: Thoughtful Alphabet XVII. The Fantod Press, Cape Cod (1997). Limited Edition of 750 numbered copies; signed by author
Gorey, Edward. The Haunted Tea-Cosy. Harcourt, Brace and Company, New York (1997). A Dispirited and Distasteful Diversion for Christmas; Illustrated; Limited edition of 500 numbered copies and 26 lettered copies signed by author and artist
Gorey, Edward. The Just Dessert: Thoughtful Alphabet XI. The Fantod Press,New York (1997). Limited Edition of 750 numbered copies signed by Gorey; Illustrated by Gorey
Gorey, Edward. Headless Bust. Harcourt Brace and Company, NY (1999). A Melancholy Meditation on the False Millennium