Anne 1st-edition nets record $30K US at auction

A rare first-edition, first-impression edition of Anne of Green Gables sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York for $30,000 US on Friday afternoon.

It's a record-setting amount for a Lucy Maud Montgomery book. The private buyer also paid an additional $7,500 in taxes and other fees.

The sale price was $6,000 more than any previous auction has fetched for a Montgomery first edition.

The 1908 classic is described as being in fine condition. Only eight original copies have been made available for sale over the last four decades, from the 2,000 to 3,000 copies that were printed.

"It's in short supply but it's such a well-loved story, the demand to have it is very high," said Aubrey Bell, a Montgomery historian.

The Canadian literary gem wasn't published in Canada until 35 years after it was published in Boston.

Justin Caldwell of Sotheby's Auction House said the book was sold by a private American collector.

"I think he's aware of the scarcity of the book. He's aware of the prize that we were able to achieve in 2005, which was a record," said Caldwell. "I think he's hoping for a repeat of that."

In 2005, a first edition expected to sell for between $8,000 and $12,000 US sold for $24,000.

A 1909 edition of Anne of Avonlea sold in the same auction for $15,000 US, including buyer's premium.

The sale was part of book auction that includes 141 lots.

The Montgomery book appeared about halfway through the auction.