A dedicated first edition of Scott Fitzgerald's Jazz Age novel, The Great Gatsby, is for sale at Bonham's Books and Manuscripts auction in its Los Angeles saleroom on February 14.
 First edition dedicated to the book's inspiration, Tommy Hitchcock ($15k-20k) |
The one-of-a-kind copy is dedicated by Fitzgerald to the man on whom the stories protagonist, Tom Buchanan, is based.
The book is inscribed: "For Tommy Hitchcock / for keeps / from his friend / F. Scott Fitzgerald / Los Angeles / 1927."
Tommy Hitchcock was a dashing World War I veteran of the Lafayette Escadrille, and the US's top polo player from the 1920s until the end of World War II.
Fitzgerald met Hitchcock at Long Island's Meadowbrook Polo Club and found in him the model for both the wealthy and privileged Tom Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, as well as Tommy Barban in Tender is the Night.
 Dust jacketed first edition, estimated at $60k-80k |
Fitzgerald signed this copy sometime between January and March of 1927 when he was invited to Hollywood to work on a screenplay.
The book is estimated at $15,000-20,000 (£9,500-12,500).
Better still, another first edition of the same work in its dust jacket also on sale at an estimated $60,000-80,000 (£37,500-50,000).
Bonhams set a world auction record of $180,000 (£115,000) for the title in June 2009.
- More news on Books & Manuscripts
- Enjoy the read? Don't forget to sign up for your free newsletter with exclusive content
