Yes, you read that right — Sylvester Stallone, acclaimed film actor, screenwriter, producer — and bibliophile. Apparently when Rambo wasn’t tracking down and mercilessly shooting up bad guys, he was visiting antiquarian bookshops. Who knew? Over the decades, he acquired a very impressive collection of first and rare editions from some of the greatest authors of the 18th and 19th centuries. Heritage Auctions, based in New York, will be auctioning Stallone’s private library of more than 1,000 valuable books on March 8, 2017. Here are the some of the literary gems in Stallone’s collection:
The Complete Writings of Walt Whitman (1902): Paumanok edition in 10 volumes, bound in red morocco; limited to 300 sets. Includes a handwritten postcard from Walt Whitman, dated 1890. Value: $4,000.
The Waverly Novels by Sir Walter Scott (circa 1910): 10 volumes, leather bound. Includes a one-page autographed letter by Scott. Value: $2,000.
Complete Writings of Nathaniel Hawthorne (1900): 22 volumes; limited to 500 sets. Includes a customs certificate signed by Hawthorne. Value: $1,500.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1886): First edition, housed in two protective boxes. Value: $2,000.
The Complete Works of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning: 18 volumes; limited to 275 sets (of which this is number 10) signed by the publisher and the editors. Value $1,200.
Works of Washington Irving (1895-1987): Author’s autograph edition, 40 volumes; limited to 500 sets (of which this is number 23) with original, one-page holographic manuscript. Value: $1,200.
The Rougon-Macquart by Emile Zola: The first collected U.S. edition in 12 volumes, limited to 1,000 sets. Value: $1,000.
The Complete Writings of Lord Macaulay (1899-1900): Large paper edition, limited to 500 numbered sets (of which this is number 212), with original two-page autograph letter, signed by Macaulay (1857). Value: $1,000.
Owning books once owned by Rocky/Rambo: priceless.
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For further reading: https://www.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/sylvester-stallone-s-library-collection-of-rare-books-debuts-at-heritage-auctions.s?releaseId=3111&ic=ih-clickButton-Stallone-Library-auctionHome-6174-021417
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