Theodore Dreiser would become one of America's most important novelists of the 20th century, but in 1900, he was an unknown, newspaper and magazine writer. That is when he published his first book, Sister Carrie. Item 11 is a first edition of this novel, published by Doubleday, which did little to promote what was then considered a scandalous work. Only 600 copies were printed. It would be another 25 years before Dreiser would achieve success as a writer. $4,000.

The Great Gatsby is one of the most collectible of American novels. Though not uncommon, it is enormously desirable among collectors. Item 17 is a first edition, first issue from 1925. This copy comes with an interesting provenance. It is signed and dated by (James) Norman Hall, in Tahiti, during 1926. Hall, along with Charles Nordhoff, wrote a series of adventure books, most notably Mutiny on the Bounty. He spent most of his life on the island of Tahiti. Hall's copy of Gatsby is priced at $3,500.

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