Artunderwraps

First Edition Prices, Values and Auction Results

American author William Faulkner showcases the South in a way no other writer had before his time. Multiple perspectives on prejudice, mental instability, and the crumbling of social status puts Faulkner among the best of the best. His Pulitzer Prize winning book A Fable is a popular wish-list item for Faulkner aficionados.andnbsp; It strays a bit in its setting and context from other works, and sets the tale amidst the backdrop of WWI and France. Published in 1954 by Random House (New York) the limited first editions includes 1000 numbered copies signed by Faulkner. Prices for this piece of literary history range from $800-$2000 if the original slipcase is included and condition is fine. Other limited first editions without the slipcase range from a few hundred to $700. First trade editions with dust jackets are available for as low as $60.

We collected a sample of 36 auction results of Faulkner, William's A Fable from 3 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $60 and the highest overall price realized was $1920. The overall average price was $606 and the median price realized for the book was $540. There were 19 auctions (59%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 3 auctions (9%) exceeding the high estimates, and 10 auctions (31%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a PBA sale on May 22, 2014 of a 1954 - Random House edition for $1320 that one of 1000 signed by author; a PBA sale on April 03, 2008 of a 1954 - Random House edition for $1560 that one of 1000 signed by author; a Bonhams sale on February 18, 2007 of a 1954 - Random House edition for $1314 that one of 1000 signed by author;