Friday at Auction Finds is readers’ questions day. I try to guide readers to resources to help them identify their items or determine their value. I’m not able to appraise their treasures, but I can do some preliminary research to get them started. For those seeking a value, I offer market values based on prices I find on the web, not appraisal for insurance purposes that I suggest for items that have been determined to be of great value.
Today’s question is about a 1963 copy of “Where the Wild Things Are” signed by the author Maurice Sendak.
Question:
I have a signed copy of “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak. It has a dust jacket, gold Caldecott label on top right, 5.95 on inside jacket.
It is in very good condition. It is signed “to the McDonoughs Maurice Sendak.” I got it at the American Booksellers Association convention in the late ’70s. Do you think it has monetary value or just sentimental value?
He also signed my copy of “The Art of Maurice Sendak” by Selma G. Lanes in mid-to-late 80s when he visited our local public library. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter.
Answer:
I’ve written about “Where the Wild Things Are” several times because it is one of my favorite children’s books. I picked up a 1963 copy without a dust jacket at auction once, but it’s not worth much. A few years ago, another reader asked me about the value of a copy that was similar to mine.
Sendak, who died in 2012, first published the book in 1963, and it was popular then and continues to be so now. It won the esteemed Caldecott Award in 1964 as the most distinguished book that year. More than 20 million copies in 32 languages have been sold.
I was intrigued by this reader’s copy because it was signed and it had some elements that, as I recalled from my earlier research, added value to early copies of the book. This is what I found that distinguished a “true first” edition:
A dust jacket with no mention of the Caldecott award, front and back jacket flaps with three paragraphs of text about the story, and the text “Harper & Row, Publishers/ 40-80/ 1163.”
After the book won the award, the publisher pulled the entire first edition and reissued it with the gold medal affixed to the top right corner. The medal was placed on the lower left corner of later editions.
Earlier first editions bore a price of $3.50 on the upper front flap of the dust jacket. By the third issue, the noted price was $3.95.
I could find no book that exactly matched the parameters of the reader’s book (most notably, the price of $5.95). Abebooks.com has several copies of first-editions with descriptions, along with asking prices. She should look there to see if she can find a book similar to hers.
I told the reader that her book may have monetary value since it was signed by Sendak, but I couldn’t say for sure. She didn’t mention the date of publication, so it was hard for me to know if it was a first edition.
I suggested that she follow the recommendations I mentioned in the blog post to determine the value of the book and do more research on the web. I also suggested that she contact an antique bookstore where she lived to see if the store had a book expert. She could also contact reputable auction houses in her area – try to find one that has a book expert – that offer free appraisal days. She can find auction houses via auctionzip.com.
Another resource is the Rosenbach Museum in Philadelphia, which has Sendak books and other materials. I offered this advice while urging her to read as much about the book as she could before seeking advice.
One thing I didn’t ask and should have was about the signature itself. Had she matched it to other known and authenticated signatures of Sendak? She mentioned that she has a book signed by him, and that’s a good first place to start. She’d need to authenticate the signature or have it authenticated.
I found several versions of Sendak’s signature on the web, along with one that looked very similar to the one the reader later sent me in an email. Hers looks like an authentic signature.
Reader’s reply:
I checked the copyright and it is 1963. I can’t imagine parting with this book – he was my all-time favorite children’s book author/ illustrator. Just curious if it should be insured.
My reply:
Don’t worry about insuring it until you know what it’s worth, I told the reader, who did find a vintage bookstore in her town. Call or just drop by before taking your book just to get a feel for the place and the owners.
Reader’s reply: I will take your advice and go slowly. I have a letter from Dr. Seuss that he wrote to my first-grade class in 1978. I’m pretty sure it’s the real deal. I’ve done some research and the stationery, signature with his “squiggle” under it, return address, etc., look right.
A local “Seussuphile” offered me $700 for it. I didn’t get a good vibe from him and he was in a hurry to buy it. Besides, I really like it. My grandkids think I’m cool!!!??
