The most-collected modern firsts

These ten 20th and 21st century first editions are among the most actively pursued modern firsts in the English-language market — each combines literary stature, collector demand, and a small first-printing run.

1. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald, 1925) — the headline modern first.
2. The Hobbit (Tolkien, 1937) — first printing 1,500 copies.
3. The Sun Also Rises (Hemingway, 1926) — first issue with “stopped” misprint.
4. Brave New World (Huxley, 1932) — Chatto & Windus first.
5. Catcher in the Rye (Salinger, 1951) — first issue dust jacket with photo on rear panel.
6. To Kill a Mockingbird (Lee, 1960) — J.B. Lippincott first printing.
7. Lord of the Rings (3-volume set) (Tolkien, 1954-55) — Allen & Unwin firsts.
8. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling, 1997) — Bloomsbury first, hardcover, 500 copies.
9. The Road (McCarthy, 2006) — Knopf first.
10. Beloved (Morrison, 1987) — Knopf first.