It was a monster of a sale.
A rare first-edition copy of Mary Shelley’s classic novel “Frankenstein” – one of only three copies known to have survived – fetched a spine-tingling $843,750 at auction.
The 1818 edition of the ground-breaking book – officially titled “Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus” – was the gem at the Heritage Auctions sale that featured works from the 15,000-volume library of rare book collector William Strutz, who died earlier in the year.
“This auction establishes Heritage as the premier destination for rare books and manuscripts,” Francis Wahlgren, the auction house’s international director of rare books and manuscripts, said in a statement.
“This was a single-owner sale 60 years in the making and the results are a true testament to a great collector and a market that recognized the treasures assembled by William Strutz.”
The June 27 auction in Dallas, Texas featured other rare works from the Strutz library, including an inscribed 1925 copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” that sold for $425,000 and a presentation copy of JRR Tolkien’s “Hobbit,” which sold for $300,000, Heritage announced.
In addition, a copy of Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden or Life in the Woods” sold for $275,000.
Bidding on “Frankenstein” opened at $300,000 but quickly ballooned in a bidding war.
Strutz bought the book in 1975, and it remained the only copy in private hands – the other two are part of the Pforzheimer and Berg Collections at the New York Public Library.
Wahlgren called the late collector’s library “one of the most important collections of English and American literature that has come on the market in decades.”
Strutz’s son, Colin, said he was honored that his dad’s rare volumes have caused such a stir.
“We so appreciate everyone who helped make this a record-setting day,” he said following the auction. “This auction honored my father’s passion and we look forward to working with Heritage as we continue to tell dad’s story through the books he collected and loved.”
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“We so appreciate everyone who helped make this a record-setting day,” he said following the auction. “This auction honored my father’s passion and we look forward to working with Heritage as we continue to tell dad’s story through the books he collected and loved.”