Artunderwraps

First Edition Prices, Values and Auction Results

"Taking the road less traveled" and meditating at the wonder of nature and trees are hallmark  of the beloved poet Robert Frost. Certainly one of the most prolific American poets of the 20^th century, Frost is part of most poetry anthologies and his mark on the literary landscape is deep. His poems such as "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and "Acquainted with the Night" are among well-known verses in this collection. The first edition published by Holt and Co. (New York) in 1949 was a single volume and was printed in a limited edition of 500 copies, with signed copies selling for $750-$800. In 1950 a 2-volume limited edition of 1500 copies was published by Limited Editions Club and included signatures by Frost, Nason (illustrator), and Rogers (designer). This LEC set sells at auction for $1000-$1500.

We collected a sample of 6 auction results of Frost, Robert's The Complete Poems of Robert Frost from 2 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $780 and the highest overall price realized was $1560. The overall average price was $1136 and the median price realized for the book was $1086. There were 0 auctions (0%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 3 auctions (100%) exceeding the high estimates, and 0 auctions (0%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a Swann sale on October 14, 2010 of a 1950 edition for $1560 that one of 1500 sets signed by author; a Bonhams sale on June 10, 2009 of a 1950 - Limited Editions Club edition for $1342 that one of 1500 sets signed by author, illustrator and designer; a Swann sale on April 15, 2004 of a 1950 edition for $1093 that one of 1500 sets signed by author, illustrator and designer;