Ī copy of Moliere L'Avare (1918), owned by acclaimed novelist, playwright, poet and theatre director Samual Beckett, sold for £8,060. In a bid to control costs, the UK publishers finally removed the red from the sun, leaving just black, green and blue ink to be printed on the white paper. His original full-colour drawings for the dust jacket were redrawn by him several times, removing colours until just four remained. First published in 1937, Tolkien’s letters, and the records kept by his publishers, confirm that he was very involved with the design of the book. The classic children’s fantasy novel has been celebrated by readers for many generations, and has never been out of print.
Tolkien’s The Hobbit, or, There and Back Again (1937) sold for an exceptional £18,600. Īnother rare first edition, this time of J.
Also from the collection, a first edition of Live and Let Die, (1954), sold for £8,060, and a first edition of Moonraker, (1955) sold for £5,952. This rare first edition Casino Royale is in exceptional condition, and was the first of a complete collection of Fleming’s 007 novels to be offered during the sale. The dust jacket was designed by Fleming himself and the initial hardcover release was priced at 10s, 6d a copy.
Written by Fleming in Jamaica, the book received stellar reviews and the first UK print run sold out in under a month.
