EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF FIRST EDITIONS TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER AS PART OF TWO DAY BOOK SALE
Nearly 250 first editions from a single collection, ranging from Dickens to 20th century classics, will go under the hammer at Keys Fine Art Auctioneers’ two day Book Sale in June.
The extraordinary collection of the late Norfolk authors and bibliophiles David and Patricia Cory make up 240 lots of the 1,350 lot sale, and includes first editions, autographed letters and other relevant material from Charles Dickens, ghost writer M.R.James, Arthur Conan Doyle, William Somerset Maugham and John Le Carré, as well as many other authors.
Highlights include:
- Several first editions by late 19th century and early 20th century ghost writer M.R.James, including Wailing Well, compete with autographed letter (estimate £300-£350) and Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (£300-£350)
- Eleven first editions by Charles Dickens, including a three volume Oliver Twist (£200-£300)
- First edition of John Le Carré’s The Spy Who Came In From The Cold and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (as one lot, £300-£350)
- Five first edition by 19th century Irish writer of Gothic tales, mystery novels and horror fiction John Sheridan Le Fanu, including Haunted Lives (£500-£600) and Uncle Silas, A Tale of Bartrum Haugh (£500-£600)
- A first edition of H.G.Wells The Time Machine (£600-£800)
Norfolk-based David and Patricia Cory amassed their collection of fantasy fiction, ghost stories, crime fiction and classics – all first editions – over several decades. Patricia Cory, who was a published author herself, died last year.
Keys head of books Robert Henshilwood said, “It is rare for the entire collection of genuine enthusiasts like David and Patricia Cory to come up for auction, and this sale is an opportunity for collectors to acquire all sorts of interesting first editions from the 19th and 20th centuries.”
Keys Fine Auctioneers two day Books, Maps, Prints and Ephemera Sale takes place on Thursday 14th and Friday 15th June at the firm’s Aylsham, Norfolk saleroom, with online bidding at www.the-saleroom.com. Full details are available at www.keysauctions.co.uk.