If there was ever any doubt about just how valuable an investment in signed first editions can be, the numbers associated with James Joyce signed copies in an upcoming  Bonhams auction on June 24th should put paid to them. The books come from the library of  a “deceased Irish collector” who lived in the United States and include gems such as a signed first edition of Ulysses and a rare Henri Matisse illustrated edition.

First editions: ‘Ulysses’ signed by James Joyce, (€82000-€110000)
Irish Times, on Fri, 12 Jun 2015

The top lot is a first edition copy of Ulysses, published in Paris in 1922, and estimated at £60,000-£80,000 (€82,000-€110,000). The copy is catalogued as “First Edition, Number 282 of 750 copies on ‘hand-made paper’, from an edition limited to 1,000 copies” and is inscribed: “To Lewis Galantière James Joyce Paris 11 February 1922”. …

Rare Henri Matisse-Illustrated Edition Of Ulysses Under The Hammer
ArtLyst, on Thu, 11 Jun 2015

Another notable lot in the auction includes a signed first edition of Ulysses, which was given to Lewis Galantiere, an American translator of French literature, who was living in Paris when he met the Irish author. The February 11, 1922 copy, which is …

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