AN auction of vintage and historic books in Carlisle will delve between the pages of some literary classics.
Laidlaw Auctioneers & Valuers’ monthly two-day auction at Carlisle includes some rare first edition novels including Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, Vita Sackville West’s first ever novel Heritage, and Rudyard Kipling’s classics The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book.
Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, published in June 1936, was popular with American readers from the outset, becoming American’s top fiction bestseller of 1936 and 1937.
It is a coming-of-age story that follows young Scarlett O’Hara, the spoiled daughter of a plantation owner, as she navigates life to a background of the American Civil War.
The book’s title itself is noted to be a metaphor for the demise of the way of life before the War.
Mitchell received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for the book in 1937 and the 1939 motion picture of the novel, starring Clarke Gable, Olivia DeHavilland and Vivien Leigh, won eight Academy Awards.
The rare copy of the book on offer comes in bespoke case and carries a pre-sale estimate of £3,000 to £4,000.
The first edition Kiplings in the auction carry a pre-sale estimate of £300 to £500 and Vita Sackville-West’s debut novel 'Heritage' is conservatively estimated at £200 to £300.
Each of Laidlaw’s auctions has a substantial books and ephemera category covering a wide range.
One of this county’s most famous writers was Alfred Wainwright, author of famous Fell Guides. The auction also includes two desirable original drawings by Wainwright; one of Low Crosby Church and another of Swindale They each carry a pre-sale estimate of £500-1000 with the proceeds being donated to the Wainwright Society.
In addition to books, the sale includes sections from vintage hi-fi equipment to clocks and watches.
It includes a longcase clock by Wilson Nutsford of Cleator Moor. Dating to 1830s it is a rare example; John Penfold in his book “The Clockmakers of Cumberland” reported that none of Nutsford’s clocks are known.
The auction takes place is on Friday March 24 to Saturday March 25, with viewing on Thursday 23 and throughout the sale. It is open to bidder in the room and online.
You can see what’s on offer by viewing in the fully illustrated online catalogue at laidawauctioneers.co.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here