Identification

Willa Cather 'Sapphira and the Slave Girl' 1940 Edition

Photo reference

4 uploaded photos

Overview

The item is clearly a book. The title page explicitly states the author (Willa Cather), title ('Sapphira and the Slave Girl'), publisher (Alfred A. Knopf), and year of publication (1940). The copyright page confirms the 1940 date.

Story

Published in 1940 by Alfred A. Knopf, this was Willa Cather's final novel. The Knopf editions of her work are known for their distinctive typography and binding styles, often featuring the paper title labels seen on this copy. Willa Cather is a highly collected American author, but 'Sapphira and the Slave Girl' was her final novel and had a substantial initial print run. Consequently, the market is saturated with reading copies.

Maker / Origin

Alfred A. Knopf

Condition & Value

The visible publisher's dull green cloth and paper spine label appear intact and characteristic of the first edition. The primary condition factor for this era is the dust jacket, which is currently unverified in the provided description; any fading, rubbing, or lack of the jacket will significantly impact collectible value.

Full Research

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

Market Analysis

Willa Cather is a highly collected American author, but 'Sapphira and the Slave Girl' was her final novel and had a substantial initial print run. Consequently, the market is saturated with reading copies. Collector demand is strictly reserved for copies in near-fine condition that retain their original, unclipped dust jackets.

Value Drivers

▲ First edition status of a major American author's final novel

▲ Original publisher's cloth binding with paper labels intact

Concerns

▼ Unverified presence of the original dust jacket — missing jackets severely depress 20th-century first edition values

▼ Unverified copyright page — lacking the explicit 'First Edition' statement indicates a less valuable later printing

▼ Large initial print run makes this specific title relatively common in the secondary market

Best Venue

List on a broad marketplace like eBay or Etsy. If the dust jacket is missing, price at $20-$25 for a steady sale to a general reader. If the jacket is present and in good condition, price closer to $45. Ensure a clear photo of the copyright page is included in the listing to prove first-edition status.

Upside Potential

If the book includes a well-preserved original dust jacket with minimal sunning to the spine, and the copyright page confirms true first-edition status, it can confidently price at the top of the range ($45-$55).

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Also found — market-range context

Related comps outside the valuation band· 1 comp

Surfaced during research but not used to anchor the valuation — wrong form, species, era, or no published price. Shown so the market range around this item is visible.

Invaluable
Book, "Sapphira and the Slave Girl" by Willa Cather (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1940), 8vo, cloth, 295pp. 1st edition, limited to 520 numbered copies, this one # 467, signed by the author. With slipcase.
Limited signed edition with slipcase; represents a significantly higher market tier than the standard trade edition.
No price