Undoubtedly a landmark literary work, Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man changed the landscape of what it meant to be an African American in a white society. This society plagues the nameless protagonist by beating him down and ignoring him, adding to his personal struggle for identity. The first issue published in 1952 by Random House (New York) andnbsp;has a pictorial jacket by E. McKnight Kauffer and with a portrait of Ellison by Gordon Parks on the back panel. In fine condition, this copy may be auctioned in the $1500-$2000 range, even more if the copy is signed. Later issues of the first edition command $800-$1500 if signed. Attention should be paid to the issue points as many editions look similar including the dust jacket.
We collected a sample of 21 auction results of Ellison, Ralph's Invisible Man from 3 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $96 and the highest overall price realized was $4200. The overall average price was $1089 and the median price realized for the book was $1080. There were 10 auctions (53%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 7 auctions (37%) exceeding the high estimates, and 2 auctions (11%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a Bonhams sale on February 14, 2016 of a 1952 - Random House edition for $2750 that with an inscription from author; a PBA sale on September 27, 2007 of a 1952 - Random House edition for $1920 that described as "very good overall"; a PBA sale on January 26, 2006 of a 1952 - Random House edition for $4200 that rare signed copy; a PBA sale on May 27, 2004 of a 1952 - Random House edition for $2040 that described as "very good to near fine in like jacket";Auction House | Auction Date | Author | Title | City | Publisher | Year | Estimate | Sale Price | Auction Page | Copies For Sale | |
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Swann | May 16, 2017 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | $600-$900 | $1375 | |||
Swann | May 18, 2016 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | $600-$900 | $406 | |||
Bonhams | February 14, 2016 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | - | $2750 | |||
Bonhams | September 22, 2015 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | - | $1500 | |||
PBA | August 20, 2015 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | $1000-$1500 | $960 | |||
PBA | October 10, 2013 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | Franklin Center, PA | Franklin Library | 1980 | $200-$300 | $168 | |||
PBA | July 25, 2013 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | Franklin Center, PA | Franklin Library | 1980 | $100-$150 | $96 | |||
PBA | December 13, 2012 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | $500-$800 | $360 | |||
Swann | June 21, 2012 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | 1972 | $400-$600 | $270 | ||||
PBA | June 12, 2008 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | $1500-$2500 | $1080 | |||
PBA | September 27, 2007 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | $1000-$1500 | $1920 | |||
Swann | February 27, 2007 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | 1952 | $300-$500 | $540 | ||||
PBA | January 26, 2006 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | $4000-$7000 | $4200 | |||
PBA | January 26, 2006 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | $200-$300 | $420 | |||
PBA | March 24, 2005 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | $1500-$2500 | $1140 | |||
Swann | November 9, 2004 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | 1972 | $300-$400 | $201 | ||||
PBA | May 27, 2004 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | Random House | 1952 | $1500-$2500 | $2040 | |||
Swann | February 26, 2004 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | 1952 | $800-$1200 | $1495 | ||||
Swann | February 26, 2004 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | Franklin Center, PA | 1980 | $300-$400 | $489 | ||||
PBA | January 29, 2004 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | Franklin Center, PA | Franklin Library | 1980 | $250-$350 | $192 | |||
Swann | February 27, 2003 | Ellison, Ralph. | Invisible Man | New York | 1952 | $600-$900 | $1265 |