First Editions/Second Thoughts (FEST), an auction of one-of-a-kind books and artists catalogues, raised $1 million to support PEN’s work to defend free expression and aid persecuted writers worldwide. American Pastoral by Philip Roth was the top-selling work with a hammer price of $80,000. Other top bids went to Don DeLillo’s Underworld ($57,000), Roth’s Portnoy’s Complaint ($52,000), Tony Kushner’s Angels in America ($32,000), and Robert A. Caro’sThe Power Broker ($26,000).
Leading the annotated works of art were Ed Ruscha’s Past Stuff ($40,000) Robert Gober’sSculpture + Drawing ($22,000), and Julie Mehretu’s Grey Area ($20,000).
Through annotations including notes, essays, drawings, photographs, letters to the reader, and inserted memorabilia, each contributing author and artist transformed a first edition of their own classic work into a distinct new artifact for the auction. A similar auction of books annotated by their British authors, held last year in London, brought in $690,000 for English PEN.
“Every novel is a record of its author’s acumen when the book was written. Post-publication edits may improve a book, but they also take it out of its time,” said Michael Cunningham, whose annotation of The Hours sold for $21,000. “I made notes and observations instead. I tried to recreate the world—the rather local world—in which I wrote The Hours, which was a bit like going to see my younger self at a zoo.”
Cunningham was one of 14 of the 75 contributing authors and artists who attended the live auction at Christie’s last night, including Paul Auster, Rita Dove, Louise Erdrich, Malcolm Gladwell, Jay McInerney, and Paul Muldoon. The sum of Tuesday evening’s bids raised just under $920,000, and a generous donation from an anonymous supporter brought the total raised to $1 million.
“As these annotated books are dispersed, with all the notes, drawings, photographs and talismans they contain, each winning bidder becomes the keeper of a small piece of literary history,” said PEN Executive Director Suzanne Nossel. “We are moved tonight by the incredible efforts of the contributing artists and authors. The new, original works of annotated fiction and art are in themselves a celebration of the creative freedom that the auction’s proceeds will go to defend.”
“Christie’s is proud to serve as host of this historic auction of unique literary treasures and to give so many book lovers a chance to view and bid on these authors’ and artists’ thoughtful reflections on their own work,” said Steven Murphy, CEO of Christie’s. “We are especially pleased to help PEN American Center raise money to continue its mission of defending free expression and fostering literary pursuits.”
Additional lots for sale at PEN’s First Editions, Second Thoughts Auctions included contributions by authors Woody Allen, Eric Carle, Junot Diaz, Gillian Flynn, Toni Morrison, Marilynne Robinson, and Stephen Sondheim.
PEN supporter and acclaimed New York City gallerist Sean Kelly expanded the scope of the lots by inviting fourteen artists, including Glenn Ligon, Richard Serra, Marina Abramovic, andKiki Smith to reimagine a monograph or significant catalogue of their work to benefit PEN.
About PEN American Center
PEN American Center is the largest of the 140+ centers of PEN International, the world’s only international association of writers working to defend free expression and protect persecuted writers. PEN International was founded after World War I to dispel national, ethnic, and racial tensions and to promote understanding among all countries. PEN American Center, founded a year later in 1922, works to advance literature, to defend free expression, and to foster international literary fellowship. Its 3,500 distinguished members carry on the achievements in literature and advancement of human rights of such past members as James Baldwin, Arthur Miller, Susan Sontag, and John Steinbeck.
About Sean Kelly Gallery
Since its founding in 1991, Sean Kelly Gallery has been highly regarded internationally for ambitious, intellectually driven exhibitions. The original list of artists represented included Marina Abramovic, Joseph Kosuth, and Juliao Sarmento, who exemplify the gallery’s commitment to important and challenging contemporary art. In 2012 the gallery moved to a 22,000 square-foot space designed by award-winning architect Toshiko Mori in the rapidly developing Hudson Yards neighborhood. The move facilitated the gallery in mounting increasingly ambitious, museum-quality exhibitions and expanding its roster of artists, which includes Antony Gormley, Laurent Grasso, Rebecca Horn, Idris Khan, Kehinde Wiley, Alec Soth, and Mariko Mori. As the gallery continues to grow, its commitment to its artists and standards of excellence remains unchanged.
