Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is a classic mass-market paperback edition of Irving Stone's seminal biographical novel about Vincent van Gogh. Featuring a textured yellow cover and Van Gogh's 1887 self-portrait, it represents the mid-century boom in accessible literature that brought high art to the general public.
Story
Irving Stone's 1934 manuscript was rejected by 17 publishers before becoming a global sensation. This specific edition helped cement Van Gogh as the ultimate 'tortured artist' in the American imagination.
Maker / Origin
Irving Stone was the master of the 'biographical novel,' meticulously researching his subjects for years before dramatizing their lives. Pocket Books, founded in 1939, revolutionized reading by making books affordable, portable, and visually striking for the everyday person.
Condition & Value
The front cover shows some minor edge wear and light creasing at the corners, which is typical for its age. The colors remain vibrant, and the binding appears intact; significant foxing or loose pages would lower the value toward the bottom of the range.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.