Belinda Kitchin: authors second thoughts on first editions

Photo: supplied

The authors behind some of the literary masterpieces of recent decades have supplied first edition copies of their books, complete with their unique hand-written annotations, for auction. The auction is raising funds to support human rights organisation English Pen’s work to defend free expression and campaign for writers who are at risk.

 First Editions, Second Thoughts (FEST) comprises over 80 annotated first editions by writers including Margaret Atwood, Hilary Mantel, Salman Rushdie, John le Carré, Sebastian Barry and New Zealand authors Witi Ihimaera and Eleanor Catton. The auction runs online until 12 July through Christie’s. New Zealander Belinda Kitchin has dedicated herself to the project for the last couple of years, working between the Hawkes Bay and the UK.

(PHOTO: Christie's Auctions)

(PHOTO: Christie's Auctions)

Roald Dahl The BFG Front Cover (PHOTO: Christie's Auctions)

Quentin Blake's illustration for Roald Dahl The BFG front bound cover (PHOTO: Christie's Auctions)

Val McDermid The Mermaids Singing front cover (PHOTO: )

Val McDermid The Mermaids Singing inside cover (PHOTO: Christie's Auctions)

Annotated character list in Eleanor Catton's The Luminaries (PHOTO: )

Ai Weiwei's book upside down to show Marcel Duchamp's profile (PHOTO: )

Ai Weiwei's book with double Marcel Duchamp profile (PHOTO: supplied)

The Spy Who Came in From The Cold cover (PHOTO: supplied)

The Spy Who Came in From The Cold annotated (PHOTO: )