Freeman’s to Offer First Edition Copy of ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Upcoming Sale

On a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean during the 1920s, Theodor Liedemedt worked as a musician to entertain the passengers. He happened to meet American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. Though there is little official record of their friendship— Liedemedt does not appear in any of Fitzgerald’s surviving letters or journals— the inscription on a first edition copy of The Great Gatsby tells the story of a shared experience: “For Theodor Liedemedt, In memory of that week we went rowing in a bull-fiddle through the lovely lakes of Central Park.” The signed copy of Fitzgerald’s classic descended through the Liedemedt family before coming up for bid in the Books and Manuscripts auction, offered by Freeman’s. 

Other books available in the auction include a limited edition copy of Ulysses by James Joyce. It previous belonged to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt. Bidders can also consider a first American edition of Moby Dick by Herman Melville, a first American edition of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, and more. Beyond books, the auction will include a portfolio of 43 prints from the Berkeley Political Poster Workshop, a lottery ticket inscribed with the iconic signature of John Hancock, and a copy of the Beatles’ Abbey Road signed by John Lennon. View any of these lots and register to bid on Bidsquare.