Bloomsbury Auctions is holding a sale of rare books and autographs in New York next week.
The sale contain over 450 lots, and offers collectible pieces from a range of literary, musical and artistic figures, and especially some fine Americana and antiquarian books.
However, some of the best material relates to T S Eliot, regarded by many as the greatest modernist poet. This is thanks to a collector by the name of Thomas Shelton, who had a particular interest in him and his fellow poet Robert Frost.
One of the most notable lots is a first edition of The Wasteland, for which Eliot is best remembered. (Though not everyone got the point - in a rare interview Eliot gave, it was printed as 'The Washstand' which reduced the normally sombre Eliot to hysterics.)
 The Wasteland by TS Eliot |
This copy has the original flexible black cloth gilt-lettered on spine and upper cover in salmon. The dust jacket is printed in black.
Just 1,000 copies of the original edition were produced, and these were in two printings of 500 each. This version has certain minor errors, including an 'a' missing from 'mountain'. It has been given a guide price of $6,000-8,000 and is one of 68 Eliot-related lots.
The auction takes place on Wednesday, February 23. Those interested in memorabilia related to great poets may wish to take a look at this signed picture of William Wordsworth which is currently available.
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