A highly collectible book by William Faulkner, A Light in August tells the story of alienation based on racial discrimination and the turmoil it creates. His setting of the South amidst Jim Crow and Prohibition infiltrate the lives of his characters in what is considered to be one of the great American novels of the 20th century. Main character Lena Grove sets out on a heart-wrenching search for the father of her child who promised to come back to her after leaving town. Published in 1932 by Harrison Smith and Robert Haas (New York), collectors look for a first printing with "Jefferson" for "Mottstown" on p. 340, line 1. First printings with a dust jacket can range from $500 to as much as $6000 when in fine/near fine condition with a like jacket.
We collected a sample of 26 auction results of Faulkner, William's Light in August from 3 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $510 and the highest overall price realized was $6000. The overall average price was $2200 and the median price realized for the book was $1712. There were 13 auctions (62%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 1 auctions (5%) exceeding the high estimates, and 7 auctions (33%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a Bonhams sale on February 17, 2008 of a 1932 - Smith and Haas edition for $4800 that described as "a particularly fine copy"; a Bonhams sale on June 27, 2006 of a 1932 - Smith and Haas edition for $4182 that Eudora Welty's copy; a PBA sale on January 26, 2006 of a 1932 - Harrison Smith and Robert Haas edition for $3900 that described as "fine in a fine jacket"; a PBA sale on October 03, 2002 of a 1932 - Harrison Smith and Robert Haas edition for $6000 that described as "near fine with a very good to near fine 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 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $1800-$2500 | $1500 | |||
Swann | November 10, 2016 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | 1932 | $1800-$2500 | $1300 | ||||
Bonhams | December 9, 2015 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Smith and Haas | 1932 | - | $1625 | |||
Swann | June 19, 2014 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | 1932 | $1000-$1500 | $3250 | ||||
Swann | June 21, 2012 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | 1932 | $1200-$1800 | $1140 | ||||
Swann | November 8, 2011 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | 1932 | $1500-$2000 | $1440 | ||||
Swann | October 14, 2010 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | 1932 | $2000-$3000 | $1920 | ||||
Bonhams | December 15, 2009 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Smith and Haas | 1932 | - | $976 | |||
Bonhams | June 10, 2009 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Smith and Haas | 1932 | - | $3050 | |||
Swann | March 12, 2009 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | 1932 | $600-$900 | $510 | ||||
PBA | October 9, 2008 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $1500-$2500 | $1140 | |||
Bonhams | February 17, 2008 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Smith and Haas | 1932 | - | $4800 | |||
PBA | December 14, 2006 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $1000-$1500 | $1080 | |||
Bonhams | June 27, 2006 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Smith and Haas | 1932 | - | $4182 | |||
PBA | March 9, 2006 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $2000-$3000 | $1200 | |||
PBA | January 26, 2006 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $5000-$8000 | $3900 | |||
PBA | September 29, 2005 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $1500-$2500 | $2280 | |||
Swann | April 14, 2005 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | 1932 | $1500-$2500 | $2280 | ||||
PBA | November 18, 2004 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $800-$1200 | $660 | |||
PBA | May 27, 2004 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $2000-$3000 | $1800 | |||
Swann | April 15, 2004 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | 1932 | $2500-$3500 | $2300 | ||||
PBA | January 29, 2004 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $1200-$2000 | $1800 | |||
PBA | October 9, 2003 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $1000-$1500 | $600 | |||
PBA | October 3, 2002 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $5000-$8000 | $6000 | |||
PBA | April 25, 2002 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | Harrison Smith and Robert Haas | 1932 | $4000-$7000 | $5100 | |||
Swann | October 18, 2001 | Faulkner, William. | Light in August | New York | 1932 | $1000-$1500 | $1380 |