Artunderwraps

First Edition Prices, Values and Auction Results

The Beat Generation's best representative of its poetry resonates in the writings of Allen Ginsberg. With its confusing format and content, its title poem "Howl" established a unique view of the psyche and the alienated souls of society. Reminiscent in some ways with the transcendentalist style of Walt Whitman, Ginsberg creates a frenetic pace that explores the observations of a speaker grappling with the real world around him. Published by City Lights Pocket Bookshop (1956), first editions have sold at auction for up to $4200 in fine condition; signed copies are in the $5700-7800 range.

We collected a sample of 21 auction results of Ginsberg, Allen's Howl and Other Poems from 2 different auction houses. The lowest overall price realized in our sample was $144 and the highest overall price realized was $7800. The overall average price was $1323 and the median price realized for the book was $600. There were 7 auctions (33%) with a price realized below the low estimate, 5 auctions (24%) exceeding the high estimates, and 9 auctions (43%) within the range of the low and high estimates. Auctions of interest include: a Swann sale on November 08, 2011 of a 1956 - City Lights edition for $5760 that signed by the author; a PBA sale on September 27, 2007 of a 1956 - City Lights edition for $4200 that described by "near fine or better"; a PBA sale on March 09, 2006 of a 1956 - City Lights edition for $7800 that with an inscription from author;