Its sale will benefit the FOS arts foundation. As the Phantom catalogue copy explains, 'The true first, as here, was issued without a printed price thus allowing bookstores to assign their own price (beyond the suggested retail price).'Įstimated at $25,000-35,000-on par with last year's copy only because this one is a bit chipped-this unique jacket is sure to draw attention from collectors of modern firsts.

It was first published as a serialisation in Le Gaulois from September 23, 1909, to January 8, 1910. 'We've never seen another copy without the price on the spine panel,' said Larson.Īt the suggestion that this jacket was some kind of publisher's trial, Larson said he didn't think that was likely. The Phantom of the Opera Le Fant me de lOp ra by Gaston Leroux The Phantom of the Opera is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. A consignor brought it to Swann having done some research of his own his copy, he revealed, lacks the $1.25 price on the spine. Larson, who worked on that sale, was therefore very surprised when another Phantom first in its jacket surfaced again a few months ago. Last November, Swann Galleries sold the first jacketed example to appear at auction for a record-breaking $35,000. Published in 1911 by Bobbs-Merrill Company in New York, Phantom is one of those modern first editions that is nearly impossible to find in its dust jacket (of which there are two variants). Coming to auction later this week is a first American edition of Gaston Leroux's novel, The Phantom of the Opera, that is very likely unique, said John D.

The phantom of the opera book cover