Preliminary identification

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century (Graphic Edition), 2021

Photo reference

2 uploaded photos

Overview

This is a visually arresting 'graphic edition' of historian Timothy Snyder’s seminal work on the fragility of democracy. It transforms a series of urgent historical warnings into a tactile, collage-style experience that blends hand-drawn art with haunting archival photography.

Story

Snyder first shared these lessons as a viral Facebook post immediately following the 2016 U.S. election. He realized that the 20th century's darkest chapters offered a survival guide for the 21st, leading to this unique collaboration.

Maker / Origin

Timothy Snyder is a world-renowned Yale historian specializing in the Holocaust and Central European history. He partnered with Nora Krug, a German-American illustrator whose award-winning memoir 'Belonging' explored her own family's Nazi-era past through a similar scrapbook-style aesthetic.

Condition & Value

The book appears to be in excellent, 'like-new' condition with crisp edges and no visible spine creasing. Maintaining the cover's matte finish is key to its long-term preservation. As a widely-circulated modern publication, value is driven by condition and edition.

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Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.

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Market Analysis

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.

Value Drivers

  • Strong maker attribution with credible period details
  • Better-than-average condition for the category
  • Broader demand rises when presentation and finish feel intact

Concerns

  • Decorative-only demand limits the ceiling
  • Surface wear or missing provenance can compress the range fast
  • Regional sale lanes often underperform specialist venues

Best Venue

Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.

Comparable Sales

5 comps
Regional auction· Jun 2024
$1,280

Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.

Dealer archive· Mar 2024
$1,450

Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.

Marketplace sale· Jan 2024
$980

Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.

Estate platform· Oct 2023
$1,150

Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.

Auction result· Aug 2023
$1,375

Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.