Artunderwraps
Fitzgerald F. Scott This Side of Paradise
First Edition Prices, Values and Auction Results
Scott Fitzgerald's first novel and success, This Side of Paradise published by Scribner's (New York) sold out in less than one week in 1920. His protagonist, Amory Blaine, drifts through his Princeton days pining for happiness and purpose he cannot seem to obtain. (The parallels of the plot with Fitzgerald's own life are difficult to ignore as he was courting Zelda Zayre at the time who later became his wife. The success of this book helped him to win her over.) First editions with "The Author's Apology" and Fitzgerald signature typically range from $3,000-$7,500 at auction. First editions without the signature command $1,000-$2,000. We collected a sample of 20 auction results of Fitzgerald, F. Scott's This Side of Paradise from 3 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $300 and the highest overall price realized was $9760. The overall average price was $3111 and the median price realized for the book was $1440. There were 5 auctions (28%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 11 auctions (61%) exceeding the high estimates, and 2 auctions (11%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a PBA sale on March 23, 2017 of a 1920 - Scribner's edition for $9600 that one of 500 copies with signed "The Author's Apology"; a Swann sale on November 20, 2012 of a 1920 edition for $7200 that one of 500 copies with signed "The Author's Apology"; a Swann sale on April 22, 2010 of a 1921 edition for $7200 that with an inscription from author; a Bonhams sale on October 19, 2009 of a 1920 - Scribner's edition for $9760 that with an inscription from author;