Great Gatsby first edition to make $350,000?

An extremely rare first edition copy of F Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby with a near fine dust jacket is valued at $250,000-350,000.

The lot will headline a sale of the Gordon Waldorf collection at Sotheby's New York, which will feature a collection of rare books from the 20th century.

Gatsby Sotheby's Waldorf
This first edition of The Great Gatsby is among the finest known examples

The jacket is in unrestored condition and features all the classic hallmarks of the original edition, including the J corrected in ink on the reverse.

The fact that the jacket was slightly too large for the book on its release means the majority display significant damage.

While this example's jacket features some chips and light tears, it is exceptional in that it retains some of the original gloss and the lettering remains crisp.  

The record for a Gatsby first edition is $180,000, a figure set at Bonhams New York in 2008.

A first edition of Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises is estimated to make $100,000-150,000.

The book is also in unrestored condition, but despite some slight rubbing on the folds is near pristine - making it the finest known example.

Despite mixed reviews upon its release, the novel is now regarded as one of the writer's most enduring works and a strong addition to the modernist canon.

A number of sales of material pertaining to Hemingway will take place in the coming months, including a first edition copy of In Our Time and a letter to the actress Marlene Dietrich.

You can read our recent blog post on Ernest Hemingway here.

We have a range of rare books available, including this autographed copy of Virginia Woolf's Orlando - one of the most influential novels of the 20th century.

Sign up here for our free newsletter to keep up to date with all the latest on books and other collectibles.

Featured products

Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Elvis Presley Authentic Strand of Hair
Sale price£399
In stock
Fidel Castro signed certificateFidel Castro Signed Certificate
Fidel Castro signed certificate
Sale price£2,995
In stock
King Henry VIII Autographed DocumentKing Henry VIII Autographed Document
King Henry VIII Autographed Document
Sale price£55,000
In stock